NETHERTON RATEPAYERS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 5027, 15 September 1926, Page 4

NETHERTON RATEPAYERS

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. ROADING SCHEME OPPOSED. A meeting of the Netherton Ratepayers Association was held on Saturday evening, Mr T. Vowles presiding over an attendance of 12 members. Cr. J. A. Reid, riding member, Mr F. Basham, county engineer, and Mr E; A. Mahoney, county clerk, were present by invitation. BLOCKING OF DRAINS. A letter was received from the Lands Drainage Engineer, Kerepeehi, in reply to representations made relative to the dams placed in certain drains in the Awaiti district. He stated that on several occasions recently the water in the Waihou River had been higher than the level of some of the land in the Awaiti, and as a result the dr,ahis, were filled. Had there not been dams in the. drains flooding would have resulted. When the wdrks now in progress were completed a,nd all inflow from the rivers stopped the conditions would be much improved. CLEANING OF THE H DRAIN. The resident public works engineer, Paeroa, wrote advising that he was applying for authority toi have the machinerdug portion of H drain cleaned out at a charge on the Rivers Improvement scheme vote. The offer received by the department for the attention to the flood-gate was excessive and could not be accepted.

The chairman reported that Mr Barclay had stated that there was no doubt the work would b® done, but he could not give an indicatio<n when. Mr Whisker urged that 'representations be made to get the work done as soon as possible. It was decided to recommend Mr T. Vowles, as a man willing and competent to undertake the-care of Jihe flood-gate. COUNTY ROADING SCHEME.

An outline of the county main reading scheme was given by Cr. J. A. Reid.

.Mr E. A. Mahoney, county clerk, was questioned by several ratepayers. -He pointed out that the mileage in the various ridings was as follows : Waitakaruru 4%, Pipiroa 7, Ngatea 11%. Patetonga 6, Kopuarahi 5, Horahia 4, 'Netherton 4%, Turua 9, Kerepeehi 4%. Mr Harms asked why 'Awaiti Road was not included. Mr Basham asked why it should be included. _ Mr Harms said that it was a main road to Waikato.

Cr. Reid explained that he was, not favourable to the scheme as it stood at present, as he considered Awaiti Road should be included. The council in committee had .discussed the proposition for several hours but no solution had been reached.

Mr Mahoney said that the crux of the position was whether the county was. to be considered as one county of nine ridings or as nine separate, say, counties. It was necessary to cut out all parochialism-, for if every district looked at the proposition as it affected itself alone it might fall. Mr Mahoney then compared the position in the various ridings under the county scheme and in tne event of the riding 'undertaking the work itself, thereby proving the relief that would be secured.

Mr H. J. Hare said he; could not see that Netherton would benefit ko very much, as it had the main highway, on wich there was every indication that the maintenance subsidies would be greater in the future. However, it was necssary to sink all parochialism for the common weal.

Mr Mahoney said that the scheme aimed at'making the county a wellroaded one in which settlers could get from anywhere to anywhere!. Mr Jamieson argued that the NAtherton riding would suffer, as it only had 4% miles of roads to be maintained, whereas Turua ■ had 9 miles, Ngatea 11%, and Pipiroa 7. Mr Mahoney pointed out that nethenton was one o¥ the outlet ridings, on which the cost of maintenance-would

be much greater than that in the central ridings.

Mr Townshend said that the solution was to make the! motorists pay for the maintenance.

Mt Jamieson asked the engineer if the ratepayers had any guarantee that the construction would not exceed the estimates.

The county clerk said he would guarantee that the engineer would not spend more loan money than was. available. The estimates had not been drawn up particularly, but had. been reckoned at so; much per mile. Mr T. Vowles urged that all the details of the scheme should be explained. It had been said that some areas* would be greatly relieved while others would not get so much relief. Mr Reid explained tha,t making all the bridges a charge on the whole county would relieve some areas from being included in two special rating areas. This was one way different reliefs would be effected. Mr Mahoney pointed out that in all the special loans some, settlors were always penalised. For every . road loa,n some, settlers did not get a benefit, yet they were outvoted by the majority and had to pay the special rates. No loan scheme was fair and equitable to all but the county scheme aimed to be as fair as possible and to relieve the existing disabilities as much as possible. Mr Simpson pointed out that the Netherton riding had carried it® reading loan with the express purpose of being in the position to combat the county scheme. In reply to Mr Townshend the county clerk pointed out that the maintenance of the Netherton roads was bound to cost considerably more than the greater mileage in the central ridffigs of the county.

On the chairman asking for a motion relative to the attitude towards the scheme. Cr. Reid pointed out that it was hardly fair to final judgment at the present time, as the scheme was not yet finalised.

Several speakers opposed the scheme on the score that they knew their liability under the riding W 1 but did not know* the. limit under the county scheme. Mr Hare said that the county chairman appeared to b® pushing the county scheme with' a view to getting the loan carried before the Local Bodies Loans Bill became effectives when it might be difficult to get the proposition approved by the board which would be set up under the; Act to supervise local body borrowing. Cr. Reid disagreed with 1 this. ’ After much further discussion Mi Hare suggested, that no decision be arrived at until such time as the scheme was finalised and, explained to ratepayers by the'county chairman.

Mr Whisker opposed this*, and. moved that .the meeting oppose the s,cheme in its present form.'

Seconded by Mr Harms and carried. Cr. Reid asked if any suggestions were forthcoming.

Mr T. Vowles suggested that the old main road be included. Messrs Whisker and Harms opposed the making df any suggestions whatever, They were against the whole scheme in any form. The matter was then dropped. NETHERTON ROAD. In reply to a. question the county engineer said that contracts had been le.t for all the rolads. in the riding included in the road scheme, and ne would guarantee that all the work would be completed by the end of th® summer. . FINANCE. The, chairman pointed out that the finances of the association were at a low ebb, and efforts shduld be made to secure membership fee,&. To aid. the funds it was proposed to hold a dance on October 7, and members ■were urged to endeavour to make it a

success. It was decided t<i ask the Hall Com mittee Tor the free use of the hall.