MATAMATA ROADS.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 88, 27 June 1918, Page 1

MATAMATA ROADS.

The Glaxo Lonnies Again. Further* Sum Accepted. Following upon a decision arrived at at the Matamata County council meeting in connection with the MatamataWaharoa road, a conference was held with representatives 'of the N.Z. Dairy association at Matamata on Friday last. Mr F. C. Daniel!, the first speaker for the association, went over ground covered when the representatives met the council. He further stated that attempts to be able to use the railway had not been favorably received by the Railway department. He therefore suggested that the council combine with the company in support of an endeavor to get the use of the railway, and so save the wear of the road. Failing success being met with a general principle in connection with roads for heavy traffic would have to be adopted. He suggested that the sum of £125 be accepted as final payment for use of the road for the past year, and that some scheme —a license for motor lorries —or something similar be adopted for the future. Cr. E. C. Banks suggested that in the first place the meeting should confine itself to discussing the estimated cost of repairing the road as at present, and deal with other questions afterwards. He would like to hear the engineer give an estimate of the cost of repairs. Mr F. Shannon (engineer) said he estimated that to bring the road back to its former state would require three cubic yards to the chain for a distance of three miles at a cost of 12s per yard of metal. Near Wardville a further £2OO would be required. The total cost would be £660. This would not make a proper job for future heavy traffic. It would also be of great benefit if the road was scarified and rolled, but his figures did not allow for that work. Mr Daniell said he thought that the council had underestimated the possible traffic on the road in the first place.

Cr. Pohlen : We knew that we would have heavier traffic, but not that loads of from 10 to 12 tons would be taken over it at up to and over 12 miles an hour.

The engineer: The Public Works Act stipulates ordinary traffic as being up to three tons, over that is considered extraordinary traffic. The county is responsible for the upkeep of roads for the former, but the person doing the damage would have to pay if heavier loads were carried. Mr Daniell: If the case had been taken to court I am certain the association would have won. Councillors: Query. Mr Daniell: How many times has your surfaceman been on that road during the past six months ? Cr. Pohlen: What was the good of a surfaceman working against such traffic ? Mr McNair suggested that nothing would be done unless the speakers continued under amicable conditions. He stated that the same milk would probably have been brought over the road by the farmers, even if the lorries were not running, which would mean more damage by ordinary traffic. Mr Daniell stated that he did not see that the road had depreciated to the extent suggested since February last. He did not think the association should be asked to pay half the estimated cost. The council was going back on its offer to accept £125. Mr Banks: The unfortunate part was that the engineer was not present; for the association the unfortunate part was that it had not paid up at the time. The council would then have made a very bad estimate. If we reopened the whole question of damage it would cost close on £IOOO. Mr Clark: I thought the figures given at the meeting were £450, the association to pay half. The engineer: That was for three miles of the road; we dip not then know the length of the road. Mr Daniell: Will you put screenings on in addition if the association pays half of the £660.

Cr. Banks : It would have to go before the council; I will support it. At this stage Mr Pohlen said what the council was asking was for half the cost of repairs £660, less £125 paid in, equalling £267 10s. When asked definitely what the Association was prepared to do in the matter, the representatives withdrew to consider an offer. They afterwards made an offer of £SO in addition to the £125 given at the last meeting. Mr Clarke thought this a fair offer. In answer to Mr Clarke Mr Pohlen said the council was prepared in February to accept £125 as payment for damage up to May 31st, but on condition that the speed of the lorries be reduced and the trailers left off. These conditions had not been complied with. Mr McNair: To give what the council asks, the council would be going back on its bargain after it saw it had made a bad one. The Association recognised that additional damage had been done since, but they thought the association’s offer was a fair one. Mr Banks : Your offer is unreasonable. Do you want to take advantage of the ratepayers ? Mr Clarke pointed out the benefit the ratepayers had enjoyed as a result of the introduction of dried milk into the district. The selling value of all the land in the riding had risen since. Cr Pohlen-: In selling the settlers would receive a benefit, but the big majority of those who did not want to sell, were not reaping any benefit. Mr Ryan suggested an additional rate on the whole of the properties near the road. Cr Pohlen : It seems we have come to a deadlock. It has been suggested that the council really made a bad bargain ; it did. But, the money has got to be found and the amount agreed upon was not paid until months afterwards. Cr Banks stated that, the representatives were proposing that the Dairy association should pay 25 per cent, and asking the rest of the ratepayers of the whole riding to pay 75 per cent. The offer he thought was a very poor one. Mr Daniell: You are opening up the whole question. Cr Banks: I don’t care if I am ; I want to see a fair thing. Cr Pohlen : If those who are supplying for the industry are not getting enough to pay the damage the lorries, in carting their milk, have caused, then it does not say much for the industry. The council went into committee and decided that it would agree to finding £4lO towards the amount of £660 (the engineer’s estimate) providing the Association provided an additional £125. An agreement amongst those present resulted finally in the Dairy Association paying a further £ll2 10s. - Proposals regarding the future maintenance of the road will be placed before a meeting of the County council by the N.Z. Dairy Association.