ROAD TO HIKUAI

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 32, Issue 3291, 21 July 1943, Page 3

ROAD TO HIKUAI

OUTLET VIA KAUAERANGA deputation to council ADVOCATED BY THAMES Frank opinions were ventilated at the July meeting of the Thames County Council, when deputations from the Thames Chamber of Commerce, Kauaeranga Valley settlers and Hikuai settlers battled for a good three hours in an attempt to secure the council’s support to have a road opened from Hikuai to Thames, via the Kauaeranga,. Each speaker stated ( his case clearly and determinedly and no “beg-pardons” were given or asked for. ■ The president of the Thames Chamber of Commerce, Mr B. D. S. Chapman, was first to speak. Mr Chapman stated that his chamber looked upon the route as a district necessity, and would do everything possible to further the project. On other parts of the peninsula more difficult roads had been opened up to settlements smaller than Hikuai. The road would be a natural outlet to the whole of the neninsula.

“ A Dead-End ” “The peninsula,” continued Mr Chapman, “is often referred to as the dead-end. If we are going to improve that position we must give this route to the people. The chamber is convinced that it would be a great asset to them.” Mr Chapman stated that townspeople and settlers on both sides of the peninsula had contributed substantially towards the effort, and as a result £1750 had been subscribed and would be collected conditional on the road going through. The only way to get the Government to put the road through was to show that the, local people were sincere in their* efforts. “The settlers on the other side,” said Mr Chapman, “have suffered years of isolation. There are not many parts of New Zealand that are 36 miles away from the ‘nearest centre.” Another member of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr W. Bongard, addressed the council. “This new and more convenient route,” said Mr Bongard, “will, in our opinion, result in the increased prosperity of the settlers of the other coast. The chamber has been advised that there are thousands of acres of workable land in Tairua that can be farmed, if it is given a good road access. Land . settlement would be welcomed by all, but whether or i not fresh settlement is undertaken, the present settlers* are entitled to some improved outlet.” Kauaeranga Settlers

On behalf of the Kauaeranga settlers Mr f*. Voykovich spoke. “From the top of our road to the Golden Belt battery, on' the other side,” said Mr Voykovich, “there are 4000 acres of good land for settlement. We also feel that the settlers are entitled to a good outlet through which they can come to Thames, with its good hospital and shopping centre.” Mr Voykovich said the road would open up lands rich with timber, gumfields and scenery. The road would also be useful from a defence point of view. Mr D. Hamilton, of Hikuai, stated that to get a good pay-out from a dairy factory a good supply was needed and to get a god supply more land, was needed. The hundreds of acres that had been brought in were not as good as those that had not yet been ■brought in. The only cause stopping the farming of these lands was the need for a road through them. Mr W. Hamilton said he had known Hikuai from its infancy. There were no roads when he first took up residence ;n the district. All transport was by boat.

“If the Government was to throw open this land, with a road through it, for settlement,” said Mr Hamilton" land would be taken up by private enterprise. Don’t let the •probable cost of maintenance on fhe road hold you back gentlemen. The richness of the land will surpass all costs. I know of one small farm in my district that pays £5OO per year in taxes. That is an indication of the value of the land. I am positive that the rates will take care of the upkeep of the road.”

•Mr Hamilton said that Mercury Bay had 2000 tourists a year. The same thing could happen to Hikuai. Mr'A. G. T. Bryafr said that his main interest was the interest of the settlers—their prosperity was the town’s bread and butter.

“And I believe,” said Mr Bryan, “that the prosperity of the settlers depends on that road. No road—no progress! The only question that seems to be in issue is what will come first: settlement or the road? As for maintenance, I have been advised that two or three days’ grader work per year on a 10-mile stretch of road such as this would be, is sufficient to keep it in good ordey. We want you to look at the project from the settlers’ point of view. Look at it as a county,

hot as individual riding members.” Mr Thorn’s Statement For the benefit of those present, Cr. J. McCall stated that the member for the district, Mr J. Thorn, had paid a visit to the district and made it plain that he would support the scheme 100 per cent., but he wasn’t going to lead settlers astray by saying that a grant would be made before the end of the war. Mr Thorn had said that the Government was considering all types of schemes for land developbent but was not prepared to open up extra land if manure could not be secured. Cr. E. J. McLoughlin: If Government engineers recommended a road via PuriiT, or any other valley, would the people still be prepared to stand behind the scheme. Mr Chapman: If we could get some governed by the Kauaeranga route. Cr. E. Clark: How long would the people’s money be available for? Mr Chapman: We we could get some definite assurance that the road would go through sooner or later, we would immediately collect the money and ! put it in safe deposit. “That route,” said Cr. Mcßeth, “has been turned down by three different Ministeps. It is 29 miles from Hikuai to Thames, and only seven miles further to Waihi. I don’t think it is justifiable to spend the proposed £35,000 s}b that 30 1 settlers can save

a quarter of an hour’s drive in a car by coming to Thames instead of Waihi. I don’t want to discourage your efforts. I only want to point out the feasibleness of a route via Neavesville or any other valley. It would be •better to approach the Government with a number of various routes, with the hope of securing one, than to have your hearts set on one that has already been turned down three times. Mr W. Hamilton: When I was a member of the Coromandel County Council I battled for* 12 years to get the road through to Tapu, and I got it after being turned down repeatedly! “ To Maintain Itself ” The chairman of the council, Mr D. Courtney, then addressed the deputation. “We are looking for a good enough route to maintain itself,” said Mr Courtney. “We don’t care where it is as long as it gives reasonable access and maintains itself. In regard to Mr Hamilton’s remarks on the

Coromandel County Council, I must say that Coromandel showed more intelligence than we did. They never loaded themselves up with loans as we did. I’ll -be frank. Out total rate collection is £10,068, • out of which £5468 goes as interest in sinking fund and hospital rates. Coromandel never made that blunder. “There is a limit to what the, people can pay in regard to rates. Most’ of you. are dairy farmers and will agree that they have had the hardest fight of all sections of the community during last few years. They are still at 1939 prices and, as I said before, there is a limit to what they can pay. “We have got to work within reason. No one has greater sympathy for the people of Hikuai than I have, but, to be frank, I have not a great deal of sympathy for the Kauaeranga settlers. I have been chairman of this council for three years, and during that time no district in the county has received more attention than the Kauaeranga.

Tairua Rates “Of Tairua, 74 per cent, is unoccupied. On the other 26 per cent., a large part is native population, 'so that there is hardly more than 20' per cent, of the Tairua riding which is rate-bearing. I am not prepared to back up the road if the country cannot be opened up for settlement.” The council resumed in the evening to reach a decision. After much discussion/ the matter was referred to the chairman and clerk who, in conjunction with the member for the district, Mr J. Thorn, will make representations while in Wellington regarding the. road and the release of land for settlement.

THE NEAVESVILLE TRACK IMPROVEMEbhr WANTED . A deputation of three Puriri farmers, Messrs R. Wilson, A. Gillan and T. Mcßeth, were present at the July meeting of the Thames County Council. The deputation requested that the stock track from Puriri to Neaves ville be improved to allow the safe driving of stock. Mr Mcßeth said the Public Works engineer was of the opinion that a first-class track could be made for £3OO. “At a' time like this,” said Mr Wilson, “we do not think it justifiable to expend too much money, but we think that if the people see the stock going through they will negotiate later for a better route.” The council decided to apply -for a grant of £3OO- for the improvement of the track.