ROADSIDE DRAINS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5108, 30 March 1927, Page 3

ROADSIDE DRAINS.

QUESTION OF CLEANING. PLAINS COUNCIL’S POLICY. Following the carrying of a resolution agreeing to contribute half the estimated cost of cleaning portion of the drain alongside Wilson’s Road the Hauraki Plains County Council at its special meeting on Monday settled its policy on such matters after a long discussion.

Cr. Mayn advocated adhering to the past policy of the council of assisting the settlers by paying half the cost of cleaning roadside drains, but Cr. Miller was of the opinion that it should be l.§ft to the engineer to decide, considering the necessity of the work for the proper maintenance of the road. He moved a motion to that effect which Cr. Hicks seconded. Cr. Harris moved as an amendment that in future applications be referred to. the engineer for a report before the council. Cr. Mayn seconded.

Cr. Madgwick opposed both motion and amendment, as he was of opinion that the council should not give assistance. Cr. Parfitt stated that both motion and amendment were useless, as the amendment left the council where it was and the motion was equivalent to saying that no more assistance would be given. Cr. Reid advised leaving the question as at present until the Netherton riding had made a move towards forming a drainage district. The chairman (Cr. E. L. Walton) said that where a district should be a drainage district the council should see that the settlers moved to have a district constituted. In other places the cases should be dealt with on their merits. The amendment was then put to the vote and was supported by Crs. Harris and Mayn, while Crs. Fisher, Hicks, Madgwick, and Miller opposed it.

A further amendment by Crs. Reid and Fisher, holding the matter in abeyance for the time being, was supported by the mover and seconder only. A similar fate met an amendment by Cr. Parfitt, to the effect that the council in future disassociate itself from drainage where, in its opinion, areas were la?ge enough to form a drainage district,* but that isolated and smaller areas be considered on their merits, having due regard to the drainage of roads. A further amendment by Crs. Madgwick and Reid was carried. This was that the council should disassociate itself from the drainage of land, and that all future subsidies towards the cost of cleaning roadside drains should be determined by the council on the merits in each instance after hearing the engineer’s report, and should be limited to the amount to which the read would benefit from the drain.