WAITAKERE LAND PURCHASE & QUARRY SCHEME

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 2 March 1916, Page 3

WAITAKERE LAND PURCHASE & QUARRY SCHEME

TO THE EDITOR

Slß,—Will you kindly allow me sufficient space to reply to another effusion from Mr Jas McLeod (which appeared in your issue of February 10), and contradict some of the statements made therein ?

Mr McLeod made it appear in his first letter that the Waitakere quarry was a new discovery, but now admits that it has been known for many years past. Metal from this quarry was used on a road in its vicinity a very long time back. Mr McLeod accuses me of slumbering! What has he been doing to be in such ignorance of the past history of this quarry, especially as he was so intimate with the late Mr O'Neill? Further, Mr McLeod is fully aware that I was too wide-awake to allow that wild and expensive scheme to be rushed through with the Kaukapakapa Riding included in it, and it is as far off being carried out as it was monthe ago, as the whole matter has to go before the ratepayers before anything further can be clone, I may say this is not the time for extravagant ventures.; we cannot expect much in road grants during the present crisis, therefore it behoves us to be as economical in our expenditure as possible instead of adding to our debt. The Waitemata County Council is now paying close on three thousand pounds annually interest on loans, and I cannot think the ratepayers are in favour of increasing it at this juncture, even if we could obtain the money.

Re " harping away on the scoria." I intend to keep harping away, also using it (when the work is not too far away from the station), seeing the tune is only half-rates to local bodies, which means good, hard, machine-broken scoria supplied and delivered' on trucks to Kaukapakapa station at 3/2 per yard. Even at that low price (as I stated in my previous letter), I find it cheaper to use the local stone when the .work is some distance from the stations, and the Council has let contracts this season for over 600 yds of local stone in different parts of my riding. The last contract (280 yds) was 5/6 per yard, for quarrying, carting, spreading and boxing. Compare this with the cost of getting stone from the Waitakere hills, rail-freight to Kaukapakapa, and then cartage from three to four miles. Even if the Mt. Albert pit was closed, which is far from certain, other pits are available.

Mr McLeod puts a series of interrogations, some of which are absolutely too absurd to reply to, and is sorry for my innocence. I may say Mr McLeod's ignorance is most deplorable, as he ought to know that when the Chairman and Councillors are asked to go on a visit of inspection, it is the duty of the Chairman to go, if possible,. whatever his views may be. I went to Brown's Bay, though opposed to the rescinding of the Council's previous resolution; I •also explained to the Councillors when at Waitakere that my going with them would prevent them having to pay the expenses of the trip out of their own pockets, as it could be charged to Chairman's expenses. I made it clear to 'some, if not all, the Councillors during the trip round, that the stone would not be of any use to my Riding. Mr Jackson knew this, and I had an argument with Mr McLeod at the Waitakere station, giving him reasons why it would not be of any use to the Kaukapakapa Riding, I made • this statement at the last Council meeting in the presence of Mr McLeod, who did not, and could not, deny it. How could I object at the first meeting ,of the Council after the Waitakere trip, when I had no idea Kaukapakapa' would be forced into this scheme ? And when Mr Oliphant moved that a sub-committee be set up, consisting of Messrs Laing, Bethel, Cochrane, and the mover, to go into the whole matter, not even mentioning the Chairman,, which is invariably the custom, I felt quite convinced it was because he realised that I was not interested and, therefore, should have no say in it. This agreed with my opinion, and I therefore seconded his motion. No councillor even suggested at the meeting, or after it, that I should attend the sub-committee meeting. Later, to my astonishment, I found Kaukapakapa had been included. Even • then I could not believe the inclusion" of my Riding would be proceeded with. I vigorously protested at the first Council meeting, and moved an amendment, which was defeated. !

Re Mr McLeod's little error of nine thousand pounds, which he says was a printer's error, I am sure, Mr Editor, you would heve corrected it in your following issue had Mr vtcLeod asked you, for my letter did not appear until two weeks after Mr McLeod's.

Mr McLeod continues to prate about the Council's standing orders, which evidently he does not understand, though signed by him when Chairman.

Mr McLeod then proceeds to make a gross mis-statement when he says— " Mr Dys's statement re not using blue metal and in the next breath stating that contracts had been let for 130 yds, -shows that when he can procure it lie uses it and goes to show up his inconsistency." Why does not Mr McLeod state what I did say, truthfully? If he will read my letter he will find the exact wording is— •' The Kaukapakapa Riding has not for many years used the blue metal from the Morningside quarry; when we do use blue metal, we fiadit more profitable to use losal stone, which often can be fo.md near where it is to lie used." Mr McLeol accuses rile of the inconsistency whic'j he has wilfully and deliberately

abricatecl himself. He is also very lavish with such terms as: twisting, cunning, innocence, quibble, etc. His mis-statement is simply a combinati on of the lot.

Mr McLeod repeats his drivel re my doings while Chairman, and also refers to the present Chairman, Mr Laing, who is a man well-known for his integrity and veracity, and is-also a sound business man. Can it be that all this bitterness is because we, in conjunction with others, did not choose to give our support to Mr McLeod for the chair ? — I am, etc.,

Frank Dye