WHAREPOA FERRY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4966, 26 April 1926, Page 3

WHAREPOA FERRY.

MEETING AT HIKUTAIA. POLL TO BE TAKEN. The fate of the Wharepoa ferry continues to be the chief topic of discussion in that district, and settlers Were afforded an opportunity at a public meeting at Hikutaia oii Wexlnesday evening of convincing the Thames County Council that it was in the interests of the. district and county generally to keep .the ferry in mission. The meeting was convened by the council, for that purpose, and apiongst those present were the chairmap of the council (Mr H. Lowe.) and Crs. Alley, Brunton, Co-x, and the county clerk (Mr H. T. G. McElroy), and about 40 settlers. The meeting got quickly to business by voting, Mr E. Elliott to the chailr. He briefly traced .the history of -the movement to keep the ferry in ennmisslon, explaining that the object of the meeting was, to impress on the visitors, the need for keeping the ferry. Cr. Alley also detailed a little ancient history. He called on supporters of the. ferry to give good and sufficient reason for keeping it open.

DECISION OF MEETING. Cr. Tjowe commenced a lengthy recita.l of the ferry’s history, with a reference, to its construction in 1917. He, quoted figures, to prove the ferry had not been a, -paying concern from the day if was started. The- -total; loss had been £lO-58 14s 2d, of which the Thames County Council’s' share was £769 Ils Id. After, quoting correspondence dealing with the matter at issue Cr. Lowe told the meeting that the council would "abide by the; decision of the meeting.” Cr. Brunton justified his attitude towards'the closing of- the ‘ferry by a description of the damage occasioned the approach roads, which were- “disgraceful” at times. River crossings were expensive to maintain, and it was a mistake to have too many. He had been under the impression that the Hikutaia people; generally, wanted to 1 close the ferry. Replying to, Mr Winder Mr Lowe held that benefit to the. district wa?s of more value than mere money. MR. HARRIS’ VIEWS. Mr Harris, though,t,that! the Thames County Council had shown "bad business principles in running the ferry.’ Cr. Brunton interjected that more money had. been spent, in Hikutaia than had been allocated. Mr Harris: One fool; at a time, please. Mr Lowe : Then you begin. Mr Harris was given the flqor, apd repeated an assertion that the Thames County Council had not u?ed good business, methods in the conduct of the ferry. ■Messrs J. Bailey and Burkhardt did not care about helping to pay for the Kopu ferry, which was “no good to them,” ‘ Mr D. Young strongly supported .the closing of the ferry. It was-' no longer vital to the'district 1 , which would be 1 well; served by the Ne.tnerton feiTy-. Ferries should be profitable affairs. He knew of one ferry owner who had recently gone into rtirement a : t Birkenhead. It seemed ,to .Mr'Winder that every opponent of the ferry had "aji axe to grind.” He supported the continuance of the ferry, using a,rgumensssimilar to- those advanced; when interviewing the Hauraki Plains County Council some weeks ago.

Cr. Lowe pointed out that if the ferry was to be kept open the Hikutaia riding would have; to maintain six miles of road. If the meeting decided .to keep the ferry open he would do all he could; to support the decision; evejn if it came to purchasr ing the interest held by the Hauraki Plains County; Council.

Mr Young gave it out that the Hauraki Plains County Council was determined 1 to keep the Netherton ferry open.

Mr Burkhardt did not think the Plains Council would have listened' to a deputation, for an hour and a half if it wa r s not interested, Cr. Lowte thought that the. Plains Council had been very courteous. All ferries were .losing propositions. Mr Youhg could not 'agree with this* He. knew of one ferry controlled who had “started with a Ford, then acquired a Chevrolet, and now he’s negotiating for a Dodge.” (Laughter.) Mr Winder was sure the feriry would pay if properly cofntrolled. Thle council should make the; profit, not the individual,

Cr. Alley asked ..the meeting to decide if it wanted to raise the Hates sufficiently to maintain the road and pay for the ferry. ■ In the discussion that followed the position of the council! y/'as: forcefully defended by .the clerk, who incidentally threw much-needed light, on the legal posiiton, also explaining that the Plains Council could niot the ferry without the permission of the Thames County Council.

' MOTION DEFEATED. Mr Harris moved that the. ferry be kept in commission for a further 12 months; and that nd; further rate be. struck. Mr Winder seconded. Cr. Brunton moved as, an 'amendment that the mafter be decided by the ratepayers at a poll to be takeai in conjunction with the county elections.. This was; seconded by Cr. A. W. Alley. The amendment was put to the meeting and carried unanimously, the chairman stating that in the event of the proposal being carried the riding would be called on to pay the major portion of the cost. —Thames Star.