DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 500, 14 September 1912, Page 5

DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS.

REPLIES FROM MINISTER,

The following letters, received by Mr C. K. Wilson, member for the district, from the Minister of Public Works, will be of interest to settlers throughout the districts affected by the matters dealt with: —

WAIPA RIVER BRIDGE. Referring to the interview which the chairman of the Waitomo County Cuuncil and yourself had with me regarding the Waipa river bridge (Kawa road), the Taumarunui-Te Kuiti road and the question of expenditure of small balance on authorities issued for road works I have to state that I have now had an opportunity of looking into th !i se matters, and advise you ,'as follows: With regard to Waipa river bridge (Kawa road), the vote, as you are aware, was provided on last year's appropriations as a £1 for £1 subsidy, and consequently the department ia unable to proceed with the work until the local subsidy is forthcoming. I understand, however, that the local body declines to raise a loan to provide the local subsidy, and the question of the Government providing the whole co«t of the bridge has been noted for consideration on the current year's estimates. Plans for the erection of the bridge have already been prepared by the department and forwarded to the county.

TAUMARUNUI-TE KUITI ROAD. The Taumarunui-Te Kuiti road, I find, run for practically its whole length through native land, some of which is leased to Europeans. Furthermore, it is alongside the railway for the whole of its length. Apart from the question that if a formed road were made it would compete with the railway, it would also have the effect of considerably enhancing the value cf privately-owned land, and it does not appear to be reasonable that loan money, on which the general taxpayer has to find the interest, should be devoted to such a purpose as this. If the road is a necessity, then I am of opinion it should be formed out of moneys raised by the owners of the land which would so considerably benefit, or by the local body. UNAUTHORISED BALANCES OF GRANTS.

The suggestion mads by you that unexpended balances of grants should be aggregated and spent by the Waitomo County Council on small works by day labour is not one which commends itself to me. Certain votes are provided by Parliament for certain specific works, and I do not feel justified in authorising any balances on these votes to be lumped together and expended by the council as it thinks fit, regardiess of the special purpose for which the money was voted by Parliament. The propar remedy is for the council to expend the money on the work for which it was voted. PAEKAKA-PAEMAKO ROADHUNT ROAD.

I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 27th ult., forwarding petition from Mr D. C. Anderson, a settler at Paemako, and a number of other settlers, who urge that provision should be made to complete the formation of the Pae-kaka-Paemako and Hunt road. In reply I have to state that your representations in this matter have been duly noted and I shall he glad to give same my careful consideration when the Public Works Estimates are being compiled this session. MANGRERE ROAD. I have the honour to acknowledge receipt of your letter of 16th inst. forwarding letter from Messrs Tebbutt and Murphy, requesting that the Mangarere road be completed to their section. In reply have to state that the representations made have been duly noted and will receive my careful consideration when the Public Works Estimates for the current financial year rae being compiled. W. FRASER, Minister of Public Works.