WHAREPOA FERRY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4934, 3 February 1926, Page 3

WHAREPOA FERRY.

OUTLIVED ITS USEFULNESS.

COUNCILS AGREE TO CLOSE.

In view' of the high cost of maintaining the ferry over the Waihou River at Wharepoa and the rapidly decreasing revenue on .account of the bad state of the approach roads and the improved facilities for crossing the river elsewhere, the proposal to close the ferry has been much discussed by the two local bodies) concerned.

The excess of expenditure over revenue for the past three years was £5BB 4s Id* details being as, follows : Maintenance : .1922-23, £ll7 5s lOd; 1923424, £135 6s 8d ; 1924-25, £437 sd. Revenue : 1922-23, £7B 18s 2d; 1923-24, £l2 16s 8d; 1924V25, £9 15g; This loss is borne equally by the general accounts, of .the Hauraki Plains and Thames counties.

The desire to establish a ferry gt Pipiroa and the disablement of. the Netherton ferry led the Plains County Council, to appoint a committee th go into the whole matter, the underlying idea being a rearrangement of the plant. This committee met a committee of the Thames County Council at Thames yesterday, those present being : Crjs. H. Lowe, A. Alley, and W. Brunton, Thames Council; and Ci's. J. C. Miller, C. W. Harris J. F. Mayn, T. McLoughlin, W. Madg-> wick, and C. Parfitt, Plains Council. On the motion of Cr. Lowe Cr. Miller was appointed to the chair.

Opening the conference, Cr. Miller said that the meeting had been called to s,ee what could be done with the .Wharepoa ferry. The Netherton ferry was at present out of commission, and the question, to be decided was. whether the Wharepoa ferry was to be closed, and, if so, whether the plant could be transferred to Netherton. The interests of the public had to be considered, but since the Kopu ferry had opened the two ferries were not warranted. If there was to be only one ferry he was of opinion that it should be at Netherton. Cr. Lowe said that the chairman had expressed the view held by the Thames council. Personally he thought it was a matter tor the ridings concerned. A great many people, had subscribed towards the initial cost, but he thought those who were still alive would consent to the ferry being closed, seeing that it was costing such a lot for maintenance. His council thought. the wisest course would be to close the Wharepoa ferry. Cr. C. W. Harris said he saw no. justification tor maintaining a ferry at a loss to the ratepayers. He agreed with Cr. r McLoughlin that the closing of the ferry would divert some of the traffic to the Kopu ferry, but if the charges at the latter ferry could be reduced no detriment would result. Cr. Brunton s,aid that from personal observation he had long ago come to the conclusion that the ferry was used almost solely by the Hauraki Plains settlers. The Thames county had to maintain a long stretch of road for the purpose of the ferry. Cr. Mayn s,aid he saw no reasfon for closing this link in the highway. Every bridge and ferry could not be expected to be a paying proposition, for .there was the quetstion of public , convenience.

At this stage a telegram was received from Messrs ‘Henwood and Winder, Wharepoa, s.tatlng that a meeting of ratepayers held during the morning had decided to strongly oppose .the closing of the ferry. A petition to that effect had been forwarded.

C'-. Madgwiick advocated having one ferry only and concentrating so that an improved service could, be provided. Up to the present both ferries were almost closed during the winter months on account of the state b? the roads. There were 50-odd chains of road to the ferry in the Turua riding, and this, should be made a charge on the whole county so- that it could be brought into a good state of repair. On the Thames side an expenditure of over £lOOO was required on the road.

Cr. Alley pointed out .that from the Thames! ratepayers’ point of view the ferry should be closed. It was used by the Plains people, and the heavy traffic cut up the Thames, county roads.

Cr. Lowe staid that .the Hikutaia riding could not afford to maintain the ferry approach roads, and there was no chance of the whole county contributing.

Cr. Madgwick said that the Turuii riding ratepayers desired the ferry closed as it was not required. He would not agree to the Turua riding funds being used .to maintain the road.

Cr. Lowe stated that the finances of the Thames County were such that no maintenance whatever could be done on the approach roads for the coming winter. Cr. Miller asked if .the Thames County would contribute a little towards the Netherton ferry if the Wharepoa ferry was closed. Cr. Lowe said he was, agreeable to leaving the matter to the Plains County. The Thames; County would continue .to contribute toward® the maintenance of the ferry if it was kept open. Cr. Harris asked whether, in the event of the Wharepoa ferry being closed, the Thames County would agree to the pontoon being transferred to Netherton. Cr. Lowe said that the Thames County could not agree to give away its half-share of the plant. Cr. Lowe said that the Thames County would continue to maintain its,’ portion of the Netherton ferry approach road in the event of the Wharepoa ferry being closed. Cr. Miller said he could see that neither county could maintain the roads, so the ferry would have to be closed. Cr. Lowe said that his council was quite prepared to leave the matter in the Plains Council’s hands. His. council had been doing all it could afford to do, and while it did not like to close any line of communication it did not think two ferries were required.