DAMAGE TO ROADS.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 87, 20 June 1918, Page 2

DAMAGE TO ROADS.

Those Motor Lorries. Cheque Offered and Accepted. At Friday's meeting of the Matamata County council matters in respect to the damage to the roads caused by the "Glaxo" lorries were further dealt with. Messrs F. Daniell (Hamilton) and J. Robertson (Bunnythorpe), also directors of the N.Z.D.A. and local directors of the Matamata Glaxo factory, waited upon the council. The chairman said the council was not prepared that clay to listen to anything with regard to proposed concrete roads, but to talk of damage already done to the Waharoa - Matamata road. They wanted tin's first and foremost. Mr F. C. Daniell, speaking for the Dairy association, said if they could talk roading matters generally he was prepared to hand over then a cheque for £125. The chairman said that without discussing the matter with the council he doubted whether he could take the cheque. Mr Daniell outlined the negotiations which were held earlier in the year when road matters were discussed by both parties. (These and further correspondence between the N.Z.D.A. and the County council have already been published in these columns). Continuing Mr Daniell said that he personally, . with MiBanks and Mr Robertson, believed that Mr Pacey had made a mistake in stating that the conditions of the payment of a cheque for £125 were contingent on the council making a recommendation that a certain weight lorry and tyre would be allowed next year. But, he (the speaker) understood that the recommendation would be made. The chairman and Cr. Banks : We did not promise to recommend it. Mr Daniell: The matter has not been dealt with ligh#ly, but has been stopped through the chief roan of the N.Z.D.A. (Mr Pacey) becoming ill. The chairman asked the deputation to withdraw pending the council's discussion on the matter of the acceptance of the cheque for £125. Upon re-entering the Council chambers the deputation was informed that the council had agreed to accept the cheque for £125 towards the cost of repairs to the road. The chairman stated, however, that at the conference a promise had been given that the trailers would be taken off the lorries and the speed reduced. Neither had been done, and much more damage had been caused. The engineer had estimated that the cost of effecting repairs would be £450. He thought, in perfect fairness, the association should meet « the council half way. Mr Daniell said he was pleased to hand over the cheque, and to say that the directors of the association were anxious to remain on amicable terms with the council. • He suggested that a committee be formed by the council to meet the directors of the association to discuss the matter as suggested by the chairman, and also to discuss the matter of milk traffic and roads generally. Mr Blackett (a director) endorsed Mr Daniell's remarks, and said that the association wanted to work amicably with the council. He pointed out that the dried milk industry was in its infancy; it had brought a great deal of money to the district and would spread. This hinged a great deal on how the question of roads was dealt with. He asked the council to look upon the matter in a broadminded manner for the good of all. The chairman: If the cheque had been sent when promised there would have been no trouble. Mr Pacey compared the spirit in which we had met him with that shown by another council, and then had turned round and said he was up against the council. It seemed to him (chairman) that the suppliers at Waharoa and Wardville had been deliberately cut off from supplying next year through the money not being paid over for it was now too late to get the road right for next season. Mr Daniell said the association wanted to pay its share, but it also wanted it made plain what it had to pay, and then it could charge the cost against those who carted the milk over the road. Mr Pohlen, in answer to Mr Blackett, pointed out that the County council represented the whole of the people in the riding who are paying for the metalling loan. Not 20 per cent, of these were using the road. And, if there was the money to be made out of dried milk, then a fund should be set aside to make good

the extraordinary damage done. This phase of the question would have to be considered to bring about the same fair agreement. The question would have to be thoroughly faced for the sub-soil of the land at Matamata was such that it would not stand heavy traffic. Mr Daniell said he agreed with Mr Pohlen for the future, but the position had not been seen clearly, and the present expenditure was extraordinary and would have to come out of the funds of (ho association.

The chairman: The general fund ? Never. It should come from the profits on " Glaxo." Mr Daniell: The expenditure this year has got to come from the Dairy association. It has been underestimated, but next year the association would allow for it. This was one of the reasons for suggesting the conference —to see what sum would have to be met. It was decided that the chairman, Crs. Pohlen and Banks and the engineer confer with Messrs Clark, Daniell and McNair and discuss the whole question ; the meeting to be held on Friday next. Upon retiring the deputation thanked the council for the good spirit in which it had been met.