PIRONGIA-KAWHIA ROAD

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 226, 19 January 1910, Page 5

PIRONGIA-KAWHIA ROAD

Handed over to the Council

At the meeting of the Waitomo County Council on Monday evening a letter was read from the UnderSecretary of the Public Works Department stating that the portion of the jMrongia-Kawhia road, which ties the Waitomo Counnty boundaries, was banded over to the County as from January Ist. The letter stated that very little more need to be done to place the road in a good condition and the Government would favorably consider an application for :* small grant towards the necessary work. In the absence of Cr Hoffman, }n whose riding the road referred to exists, consideration of the matter was held over. In referring to the genreal aspect of the question of responsibility for roads, Cr Boddie said this was only a beginning. It would be found that other Counties woud have to deal with the same thing, and they were up against a heavy responsibility. In view of the position they would require to make a determined effort to effect an alteration in the Rating Act, so as to make Native owned lands liable for rates. Unless this reform was brought about, the Waitomo Council would be crippled, and the case of the settlers would be pitiable. Last year there was a conference of Local Bodies convened by the Raglan County Council, at which Waitomo was represented, and probably the reason why this had not Been followed up was tnat the Native Minister had given a definite promise to bring in a Bill during the past session to make Native lands j-aipable. This' promisp had not been fulfilled. Cr {Boddie then moved : ! ft That in view of the increased expenditure on roads through Native lands, the time has arrived when a -united and determined effort should be IB§cJe to induce the Governmept to amend the Rating Act so the Local Bodies will be able to include such in any special rating area and also collect the ordinary rates, and that all the County Councils in the North Island be circularised with a view to united action being taken before next session of Parliament." The mover urged that action should be taken immediately so as to be in time for next session of Parliament. Considering how deeply their County was involved it was their duty to take the initiative. When the Native Minister visited Te Kuiti last he came from a korero with the Natives at Otorohanga. He then admitted frankly the time had arrived when Native lands should be rated, and offered on behalf of the Natives to go even further in the matter than the deputation 'rVqUegtec]. jp/'se?e, c ''ip gsppnding the rnptiop, sgjd" if- the rating on imiipproved lands in force on both Native and Euro? ppan Jantfs they would sppn have the gistript in a different position. £r jpfenstop, in supporting the motion, said if action was not taken thp Council would be of very little use. The road from Hangatiki to Waitomp, for a distance of eight miles had three European settlers, and the rates received were not worth considering in - the matter of road work. If the settlers had to metal that road over which the tourist traffic was heavy it was apparent what a hopeless position they would be placed in. Another point was that even where Native land nominally in European occupation lit was non-ratepaying because of in- ' i-bftpfete'titleW - ' - " e> jl!r Ofpiyyer ttiat in yiew of the GpVernment's action in connection with the main road they should make 3 strgng ppifit of all Native «ri|hgut pjicpptipfj, being madg yat§ : §ble. . . •fhe motion waa passed unanimously.