KEREPEEHI ROADING SCHEME.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4887, 7 October 1925, Page 3

KEREPEEHI ROADING SCHEME.

CTo the Editor!. Sir. —Permit me through the columns of your paper to try and enlighten . gome <of the ratepayers who apparently do not quite grasp the position in regard to the Kerepeehi Riding road scheme, with its 6 4-5 d rate. The facts are these The 6 4-5 d rate is struck without taking into consideration the subsidies- which have been promised, and which cannot fail to arrive when required. Further—and this point I want to be undrestpod by those whose thoughts are above the ground, and who fail, to-see the school children wallowing in the mud to receive their education and the backward state of the riding because these roads are still mud—that every yard of these roads to receive their baptism of metal, carry the subsidy, of a £ for £ in the case of Pekapeka Road and £3 for £1 in xonnectoin with the township roads. Kaikahu Road will also receive larger than a £ for £ subsidy. The • only road that is not carrying the subsidy at the present time is the Kerepeehi-Wharepoa road, for its full length. The resutl of these subsidies on the reading loan is that the rate will be cut down to approximately 3%d., possible lower, when the scheme in its entirety is completed. Against this 3%d rate must be placed a lower maintenance rate for all roads, and less upkeep charges for those persons who own vehicles of any kind in the riding. All the.facto are in favour of metal roads as .against mud roads, and, few, if , any, ridings can put up a scheme carrying such a subsidy as the Kerepeehi reading qcheme. That is the position concerning the loan. Will the ratepayers of this riding say on polling day that their district is poverty-stricken, that they cannot find a 3%d rate to bring their roads up to the efficiency level of other ridings in the county ? I venture to say they will not, but will give an unmistakable verdict for progress, like their near neighbours, so that we shall be in time to catch the plant and machinery before ib leaevs the Netherton riding. In fact, it may be possible, to say to our engineer, “Here is .your chance to- prove your contention, that the bigger the scheme the more economical the working” Because it is obvious that, if a contractor can , see the two : riding schemes carried, making for continuity of employment for his plant and men, it will be of benefit to the ratepayer./ Another aspect of the question which is not clear to some ratepayers is the bituminous part of the scheme —whether tills class, of road is a suc--cess and will warrant, the.putlay. It needs to be understood that the scheme submitted to the Ratepayers' Association by the engineer does not mean the immediate treating of the new. roads with bitumen, but that they should be allowed to ’consolidate for a few 1 years, and then, if the foundation is- solid, and bitumen is a success, it will be used’ to make the roads come up to present-day requirements. ; What is the alternative to this scheme, should' it not be carried? It means thai the expense of this poll • has been wasted. Another winter of mud for those on unmetalled roads; more rapid deterioration of the present metal road, until the cost of i.ts upkeep exceeds the cost of the upkeep of the whole of the roads in the riding; the loss of the subsidy for the main highway, because the main highway route will be altered; a period of district stagnation, during which time the ratepayers’ rates will be soaring upwards for no apparent reason • then that senseless procedure of splitting the riding up into four Or five different areas, each area to finance and db its own roads. Result: our roads will be completed a few years later, and for this privilege we. •<shall pay considerably more for it. These are a few of the reasons for the ratepayers to rise -to the occasion. There is nothing to lose, everything to agin. WALLACE BOOTH.