ROADING SUBSIDIES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5092, 23 February 1927, Page 2

ROADING SUBSIDIES.

HAURAKI PLAINS AFFAIRS. MR. WALTON MEETS MINISTERS. While in Wellington last week the chairman of t,he Hauraki, Plains County Council (Cr. E. L. Walton) took the opportunity to interview the Hon. A. D. McLeod, Minister of Lands, and the Hon. K. S. Williams, Minister of Public Works, on several important matters concerning the district. MINISTERIAL VISIT. Mr Walton extended to both Ministers an invitation to visit t,he Hauraki Plains in the near future, and this they agreed to do s :) nie time next month. METALLING CLAY ROADS. In connection witji the matter of the completion of the metalling of roads in the Crown areas within the county, it has been the policy o'f the Lands Department in recent years to refuse to continue such work, contending that the settlers concerned should bear the cost, assisted by the usual £ for £ subsidy granted for all access roads by the Public Works Department.. As the settlers and the council contended that the department should have continued with the metalling until all the roads had been completed, a deadock was reached, and it continued until Mr Walton became chairman of the County Council and brought forward a policy to rectify matters.

In t,he development of this policy Mr Walton, when in Wellington last week, submitted to the Minister of Lands the suggestion that, contributions o'f the settlers towards the metalling of, their roads lie subsidised by the Government at the rate of £2 for £l, being £1 from the Lands Department, and the usual £1 fProm the Public Works .Department. The Hon. A. D. McLead received the suggestion favourably, and promised to confer with the Hon. K. S. Williams when they visited the Plains next month. TURUA-NETHERTON SUBS IDY. As the result of representations uy Mr Walton the Minister of Public Works ftas since advised the County Council that £2550, £ for £ subsidy, on the Turua-Netherton roads loan may be lifted immediately. SOLDIER SETTLERS. The position in regard to the soldier settlers of Kaihere and Orongo who desire removal to other and better sections was discussed at lengt.i with the Minister of Lands, vyh° agreed that something must be done. The Minister stated that he was puzzled to know just what, to do.