THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE KAIPARA ADVERTISER & WAITEMATA CHRONICLE." HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, Feb. 10, 1916 NORTH AUCKLAND MAIN TRUNK

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 10 February 1916, Page 2

THE KAIPARA AND WAITEMATA ECHO WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED "THE KAIPARA ADVERTISER & WAITEMATA CHRONICLE." HELENSVILLE, THURSDAY, Feb. 10, 1916 NORTH AUCKLAND MAIN TRUNK

VISIT OF HON. W. FRASER

THE Minister for Public Works, Hon. W. Fraser, can flatter himself that he knows all abcut the railways of North of Auckland, the highways and the byways, the " sensible " routes and the " nonsensible " routes. Having just completed a tour of the North —rather hurriedly, certainly — Mr Fraser was in a position to talk to deputations on the allimportant subject of railways.

It is well understood that the 53-mile stretch from port to port —Whangarei (Onerahi) to Bay of Islands (Opua)— cannot form any part or parcel of the North Auckland Main Trunk railway; more's the pity. And that the loop line from off the Whangarei line to Waikiekie (about 15 miles) is but a feeder, and could well have been left in abeyance till such time as the railway got into Mangonui County, somewhere about Kaitaia and the end of the main line North. We have always maintained that the main line was of the most importance, and should be pushed forward in preference to side-lines and political intrigue, for of the latter there has been much. Even Mr Fraser admits that, speaking of tunnels and rotten country encountered from Maungaturoto North, "the railway should never have gone by the route that has been adopted." Mr Fraser coul d well say the same of McCarroll's Gap route still further north, which caused such a stirring-up of interests, and which created a a Royal Commission on the rival routes, but which, it was wellknown, was cut-and-dried before it had scarcely commenced its business. Mr F.. Mander, the Member for Marsden, can tell the story better than us, therefore we leave politics for the present alone, especially now that we are governed by a National Cabinet. It is well to keep some things in memory though. In the meantime, Mr Fraser promises that if he can possibly manage if, the line from Whanagrei to Waikiekie junction shall be completed by next Christmas, in which case he will then work South, so as to meet the line works now going North from Maungaturoto. But that is not enough ; railway works must also be urgently carried forward North of Waikiekie and so get on to the KaikoheHokianga line, down the Waihou and into Mangonui County, There has been too much dilatoriness all along; too many sideissues, or the Main North Trunk would to-day have been an accomplished fact.

had been voted from time to time, and the County Engineer, in his anxiety to get the very important main road of the Wade presentable so that it could be used by the settlers, exceeded his authority. He had spent the money without authority, with the consequence that the Public Works Department refused absolutely to reimburse the County Council for the expenditure they had undertaken.

Mr Fraser: I cannot accept the principle of overspending.

Mr Harris, continuing, said the money was voted by Parliament, but the authority was not given. £1,500 had been spent, of which only £500 was authorised.

The Minister : Without plans and specifications or angthing ?

Mr Harris : That is why we say we come in penitent mood.

Mr Fraser : Anxiety and zeal are no excuse. We do not authorise anything until plans and specifications are submitted to us and approved. If you choose to spend more money than the plans and specifications state you do it on your own authority.

Mr Harris : The engineer had no authority. It is work which has not been authorised.

Mr Fraser : What excuse can that be for an officer of a local body to take £1,000 more than he is authorised to do ?

Mr Harris, continuing his explanation of the position, said the riding had spent the money. The engineer had been " nipped " byit, and the matter was going to be a serious one for the Council. The engineer executed the work in all good faith th^at the money would come in.

The Minister: And so you ask me to give you £1,000?

Mr Harris : To save the County from bankruptcy. The money has been voted by Parliament.

The Minister : That fact counts for nothing. It has to be first of all approved by my Deparment, the plans and specifications deposited, and my authority attached. In defiance of all that the Waitem'ata>Cuunty has spent the money.

Mr Fraser said he would have to get a report from the engineer and take the matter into full consideration.

Mr Harris informed the Minister that the balance of £1,500 was in regard to Purimurimuri, and he proceeded to draw the attention of the Minister to one portion of the Dairy Flat Road which required another £300 spent on it to make it passable for the winter. Owing to the discovery of the difficulty they were in, they had not ventured to complete the work without authority.

Mr Fraser: You want me to give you another £300 after you have overspent £1,500! I certainly cannot authorise that until the £1,500 has been thoroughly gone into.

Thus it will be inferred that the Minister was knocked kitehigh, as it were, for a local body to address him as cool as a cucumber, and ask (even beg) for an additional £300, after illegally over-spending a Government grant of £1,500. A monstrous request after such an admitted illegal expenditure has never before been heard of in 'the Dominion, and we dare say the Waitemata County Council will not soon be in favour again with the Government in the matter of obtaining grants for their expenditure.