The Matamata Record THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1918 PROPOSED TAPAPA BRIDGE.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 102, 17 October 1918, Page 2

The Matamata Record

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 17, 1918 PROPOSED TAPAPA BRIDGE.

The Only Paper published in the Mataruata County Published every Thursday Office Tower Road P.O. Box 3S ’Phone 82

IN the report of the Town Board meeting, appearing in another column, the full text of a letter from the Minister for Lands dealing with the chairman’s request for a bridge from the soldiers’ settlement at Tapapa to Taihoa appears. By the reply it would seem that in some cases the assertions made, that the Ministers are simply dodging issues, would appear to have some truth. This bridge is an urgent necessity to these men, inasmuch that it would bring them at least four miles nearer the town where they will always do business. In many cases it would mean that the sections will be brought as near Matamata as Hinuera, for most part over good roads. The Minister states that they have already fair access to the settlement. They have not. In the winter just passed the road to the settlement, far from being fair, was the worst in the district, and was to our own knowledge and discomfort practically impassible. The Minister says: “ Whatever money becomes available would be better expended in metalling the main road towards the iers’ holdings.” Certainly “the run '• ad” requires m»t llin", ' ■ h th - r ma : ' u »a (M----.hi k low w ; •ti 1 n>nt ? In ny yet to learn th <t a;,me;- i.ecomes available” for metalling romis to soldiers’ settlements, and that the department has any sympathy with the men who have fought for their Empire. The Kereone settlement was opened before that at Hinuera, and what sort of roads has it got? It is the duty of the country to make life as pleasant as possible for.these men, and to encourage them to stay on the land. They must be in the closest connection possible with the adjacent town. The Minister says otherwise, that they must stick to the main road to Hinuera. They’ll stick to it alright next winter if something is not done foi\them. We suggest that the County council, Town board and Soldiers’ association should not rest until the bridge to Mangawhero is put through.