WHAREPOA FERRY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4996, 5 July 1926, Page 2

WHAREPOA FERRY.

CLOSURE & DISPOSAL OF PLANT.

CR. WINDER DISPLEASED.

. The recent closing of the Wharepoa terry and the Thames County Council’s action in connection therewith gave several councillors the opportunity at Thursday’s council meeting of expressing disapproval of the man-, ner in which this business had been handled. . The matter opened with the reading of a letter, from the Hauraki Plains County Council notifying its intention to utilise some of the plant from Whaj-epoa for the Komata North ferry, thus keeping one crossing of the river open. The council was' asked to consider the question of valuation and disposal of its haK-share in the Wharepoa plant, pending which the removal eft the plant would be regarded a£ a purely temporary arrangement, and only for the purpose of keeping the 'river service in commission. A copy of a, letter to the Ohinemuri County suggesting that it should renew negotiations for the purchase of the Thames County’s halfshare was enclosed. The clerk intimated that the chairman of the Ohinemuri County Council had expressed a desire to meet the chairman on the question of the disposal of the Thames County’s interest in the Whajepoa ferry. The council agreed that the chairman and riding members meet the chairman of the Ohineinuri County. Referring to a recent 'conference with the Plains Council at Ngatea Cr. Courtenay said he did not think it had been called to dis,cuss ways qiid means of keeping the fprry in commission. He had hesrd that the Wharepoa people were to bring forward an offer to provide the road maintenance without cost .to the remainder of the county, but as there was no such proposition placed before the conference he could not support the ferry being continued, as it meant a charge on the ratepayers of his riding. He thought the ratepayers of Wharepoa had not ha,d a fair hearing on the question.

Or. Winder said he was “very disgusted” with the whole business. He considered tha.t the council should not have held a conference with the Hauraki Plains Council in his absence, as he represented the majority df the settlers who were in favour of keeping the ferry going. He had been notified too late to attend. Had he been present he would have, placed certain proposals before the conference which, he was sure, would have altered the present position. He therefore considered those ratepayers who hu,d voted in favour of keeping the Terry open had not been given a fair hearing. The chairman (Mr H. Lowe) concurred with .this opinion, while members generally considered that the whole business had been “badly bungled from the start.” Cr. Alley thought the council was only wasting time discussing ttte question, and the matter closed by Cr. Cribb moving that the engineer be asked to value the plant and house a,nd report to the next meeting. This was seconded by Cr. McCormick and carried.