IMPROVING THE ROADS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 464, 11 May 1912, Page 5

IMPROVING THE ROADS.

A METALLING POLICY. BIG SCHEME PROJECTED. MEETING AT PIO PIO. The unanimous verdict of the public meeting held at Pio Pio on Thursday last to consider the question of metalling the roads was that the settlers were tired of mud. As to the method to be adopted to get clear of the mud difficulty, though there was some difference of opinion regarding the suggestion laid before the meeting a motion affirming the principle of raising a special loan for the purpose of metalling the roads of the district was carried and a committee was appointed to go into the matter of ways and means and report to a public meeting later.

Mr C. K. Wilson, member for the district, presided and the new hall was crowded, a good sprinkling of the fair sex being present.

In opening the business Mr Wilson said they did not want to deal in politics and introduce any party feeling into the meeting. They should consider the position as it existed and as ' it, at present affected the people without reference to cause or ancient history. They were there to endeavour to apply a remeudy to a national economic waste which was seriously handicapping the district and the Dominion. Mr Wilson pointed out that the money at present paid by settlers in extra freights due to bad roads would more than pay interest on sufficient capital to metal all the road'} in the district. The carriers were not getting any benefit; the extra money was actually being sunk in the mud. He suggested they should consider the question of raising a lean to metal the main road. It might be held the work was a national one, but even so, it was going to pay the settlers better to raise a loan and get a subsidy to do the work throughout, than to plod away in the mud. A difficulty existed in the fact that the Awakino County was a3 yet inoperative, and a number of those interested were resident in Awakino County. However, moat of those who lived in that county and were in teested had signified their approval of the suggestion to raise a loan. At a rough estimation the cost of metalling the main road from the 9-mile peg to Mahoenui would be £22.000. If they got a £ fo £ subsidy from the Government the settlers would only have to borrow £II,OOO. He felt sure a hd rate would meet the Co3t. He invited those present to consider the matter impartially and without going back on the past. They were faced with a certain posicion and should plan what was best for the future.

Mr J. Wall said that with a view to giving the meeting something definite to discuss he would propose that steps be taken to raise a loan to metal the main road throughout. He had considerable property in the Awakino County and wouid be glad to have it brought within, tha special rating area.

Mr Boddy said he was also in the Awakino County and would be glad to come into the loan.

Mr J. Old said the settlers at Mahoenui had held a meeting some time ago with a view to bringing that portion of the Awakino County into the Waitomo County. He spoke on behalf of all the settlers on the northern side of the Awakino river, and was sure that as far as the river the settlers wished to be included in Waitomo. They would support the loan. Mr P. O'Dwyer said he would move as an amendment to the loan that the present system of rating on improved values was wrong in principle and before the matter of the loan was considered ateps'should be taken to introduce the system of rating on unimproved values. The chairman said he could not accept Mr O'Dwyer's amendment. It was altogether irrelevant and should be moved as a separate motion altogether. Mr Battley said he thought the principle of metalling the main road was wrong. It wa3 a main arterial road and was used by people from one end of the country to the other. If al! those who used the road could be made to contribute it would be sound. Again, what about the others who had to metal their bye roads. He considered the burden would be too great. Mr Wilson said there was no reason why Mangaotaki and Aria and any other bye roads should not all come into the scheme. They all wanted metalling and the work could not be taken in hand too soon. If one scheme was too great let them de"vise several schemes. They were assembled to affirm the principle of metalling. It was not a question of locality. What they were doing at that meeting was only preliminary to going into the whole matter in detail. If a reasonable proposal could not be evolved when the full details came to be considered, they would certainly not go on with the matter. As matters stood the settlers were throwing a great deal of money annually into the mud. If this money could be utilised to provide metal instead, it was a commonsense thing to do. Mr A. Williams referred to the Wairere road, which was in as bad a state as any.

Mr Wilson said it was evident a comprehensive scheme embracing several roads would be advisable. He asked Mr Scholes, chairman of the Waitomo County Council to express his opinin on the matter. Mr Scholes said he was impressed with the great improvement Evidenced at Pio Pio and also with the bad state of the road. He felt sure if the settlers agreed upon a metalling scheme it would be in the best interests of the district. The inclusion of that portioti of the road in Awakmo County might be a difficulty, but no doubt that could be overcome. It was understood that as soon as Parliament met provision would be made for mak-

ing Awakino County operative and the boundaries could then be adjusted. Referring to the system of £ for £ subsidy by the Government he 'considered this was as good as could be wished. He also pointed out that in the case of Crown sections any thirds accruing on the sections could be set aside to meet interest and sinking fund on a metalling loan. As to the actual distribution of the money it could be allocated fairly to each road. Mr O'Dwyer said they were all agreed as to the desirableness of metalling, but not as to the method. He said it was all very well for Mr Wilson to present the settlers with his own brand of pills, but they should analyse those pills and see the contents before agreeing to take them. The speaker quoted figures to show that the small settler would be unduly burdened with the responsibility of the loan in comparison with the liability of the larger landholders. If the small settlers allowed themselves to be fooled by the proposals they would have 36 years in which to digest the pills. He contended the money was already ear-marked for metalling the road as far as Pio Pio. and that the metalling proposal was unnecessary for that portion of the road. He suggested it was an endeavour to drag in settlers to a big scheme which would overload them and prevent them metalling their own bye roads. Mr Wilson said that as far as Mr O'Dwyer's argument was levelled at the large landholders there was nothing in it. If the settlers wished to introduce rating on unimproved values the machinery was to hand to gives effect to their desires and a poll could be taken at any time. The metalling of the roads would help to develop the land and increase the rating values. Mr Schoien said there were alway people to be found objecting to special rates, but' he always advocated the metalling policy, especially where the £fo £ subsidy was obtainable. As to the argument that the Te KuitiAwakino road was a main road, the same contention might be applied to many other roads such as Te Kuiti to Kawhia or Otorohanga to Kawhia. Still, the settlers on these roads had gone in for metalling loans. Mr R. Were expressed himself in similar terms to the previous speaker. Mr G. Elliott also advocated the loan and referred to the shocking : state of the Aria road.

Mr Wall, in referring to the criticism on the motion said there was no reason why the scheme should be confined to the main road. He had placed the motion before the meeting to draw discussion. He would be glad to alter it to include the roads mentioned. It was merely affirming the desirability of metalling, and the details of any scheme would have to be worked out on an equitable basis. He did not know the contents of Mr Wilson's pills, but he did know the composition of Mr O'Dwyer's pills, and that was mud.

Mr Wilson then put the motion which 'was carried. A further motion to the effect that a committee be set up to confer with the county chairman for the purpose of approximating a scheme and the rate to be struck to carry it into effect, was put to the meeting and carried.

In the evening the committee consisting of Messrs Wilson, Lindsay, Burrow, Wall, Elliott, Milne, Daly, Livingston, and Boddy held a meeting at which Mr Scholes was present. It was decided to procure a rough estimate for the following work: —• Re-metalling from Te Kuiti to Pio Pio, 16 miles; metalling from Pio Pio to Mahoenui, IS miles; Pio Pio to Aria, S miles; Pio Pio to Managotaki, 15 miles; Mairoa road, 8 miles; Mangakoha road, 3 miles; MahoenuKawhia, 5 miles. The estimate for the work and the area to be included for rating, and a estimate of the rate to be struck, will be placed before a meeting to be held later.