FOXTON – SHANNON ROAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 1086, 22 August 1912, Page 2

FOXTON - SHANNON ROAD.

CONFERENCE OF DELE-

GATES.

For several months past the Foxton Shannon road has been in a bad state, particularly so during the recent spells of wet weather. The matter has been discussed frequently by the Manawatu County Council, and members of that body contended that the Horowhenua County Council should contribute towards the cost of maintenance, as a large portion of the heavy traffic on the road was that of ratepayers in the Horowhenua County. The traffic specifically referred to was that from the flaxmills, in which cases practically the whole of the flax land was in the Horowhenua County, but the only outlet for the hemp was on the Manawatu County’s road. Some time ago the millers agreed to put 250 yards of metal on the road, free of cost to the County, and although this had been done, the road was still far from good. The Manawatu County then approached the Horowhenua County, askiug them to contribute towards the cost of upkeep, and as a result of this communication a conference of delegates was arranged to discuss the question and, if possible, come to some amicable arrangement. The conference was held on Tuesday, the delegates first going over the road. Those present were : Crs R. B. McKenzie, W. Barber, W. Phillips, J. Henseu, B. Gray and H. H. Hunt (Manawatu), and F. W. Venn, Stephenson and R. Prouse (Horowhenua). Mr R. B. McKenzie briefly outlined the case on behalf of the Manawatu County Council. He said that personally his sympathies were with the flaxmillers. They had sunk a lot of capital in flax property and milling plants, and there was a great amount of labour involved, and he thought that in doing this they had done their share, and he considered that the local bodies should now do their part and assist them as far as possible. The question to be decided by the conference was which body should maintain the road in question. Practically the whole of the rales in connection with the flaxmills were paid to the Horowhcuuu Couuty Council, and the traffic from these mills was almost exclusively confined to the Manawatu County’s road. He contended this state of affairs was most unfair, and that the Horovvheuua County Council should contribute towards the cost of the upkeep ol the road. Of course the difficulty could be settled by a commission, but if possible it was preferable to arrive at an amicable arrangement themselves, and thus save the cost of a commission., All the members of his Couucil had come to the conference with open minds, and were prepared to deal with the question in a fair and reasonable manner. Each side should say what they thought should be done, and what they were prepared to do. Personally, he considered the Horowhenua County should contribute something. xMr W. E. Barber, councillor ior the Awahou Riding, said that when the Whitaunni mill was being erected the material for same was carted from Shannon, with the result that the road between the bridge aud the mill was made almost impassable. The cost of repairing same was borne entirely by the Manawatu County, but in the present case it was not fair to expect them to bear the whole cost. He didn’t think the ratepayers in the riding should be called upon to pay higher rates for the maintenance of a road the damage to which was caused by the heavy traffic of those engaged in the flax industry, aud who paid practically the whole of their rates into the adjoining County. Further, in the future the traffic on the road would increase, as other mills were shortly to be erected. He felt that Horowhenua should 'contribute, and hoped that ihe point would be amicably settled. Of course, if they could not settle it between themselves they would have to ask tor a commission to be set up. In answer to Cr Venn, it was stated that the road in question was constructed out of loan money, and the cost was borne by the whole Couuty. Cr Barber stated that they could stop the heavy traffic if they wished, but such action would not be in the interests of the hemp industry. Cr F. W. Venn said the whole question was: Does the traffic of the Horowhenua Couuty ratepayers damage the Manawatu County roads more than the traffic of Manawatu ratepayers damages the Horowhenua roads. He could prove that in this connection the Horowhenua County had suffered more than the Manawatu County had. As far back as 20 years ago the Manawatu County’s contractors had cut up the road on the Shannon side of the bridge, and the whole cost of putting it in order was borne by Horowhenua. He went into figures in order to snow to some extent the cost of repairing roads which, he contended, were damaged by the Manawatu County’s contractors. Two years ago the road between the bridge aud Shannon had been so much cut up by the contractors that the Manawatu County engineer recommended a grant being made. That was ail the assistance they had ever received, or were likely to receive, from the Manawatu Couuty. As regards the upkeep of the road in question, he was prepared to recommend to his Council that they should pay "f

the royalty— sixpence per yardon all metal required in keeping the road in repair. He was not prepared to go any further thaq

that. As regarded setting up a Commission, he said it would cost from £7O to and it would be far better to spend the money on the road. It was only a tew months ago that the contractor to the Manawatu County had damaged the road between the bridge and Shannon to such an extent that they had to request that wider tyres should be used, but the contractor elected to cease carting. The whole trouble in connection with the road was that it was too low, and there was no outlet for the suriace water. If the road were properly formed up he was of opinion that the sixinch tyres —as used by Whitauuui, Ltd. —would really benefit it. A great deal had been made of the amount of rates that was paid to his Council by the flaxmillers, but it was nothing neat what had been stated. Whitaunui paid £7l 13s, and the Green Flaxdressing Company 12s. These amounts also included special rates, hospital levies, etc. These two sums were barely sufficient to repair the damage done this year by the Manawatu County’s contractor to the road between Shannon and the bridge. It had been mooted at a meeting of his Council that they should ask for a Commission to be set up to settle the question ot whether the Manawatu County should contribute towards the cost of upkeep of this piece of road. At present he would not be prepared to recommend his Council to pay any more than the royalty on the metal required for repairing the Foxton-Shaunon road. Cr Barber said that Cr Venn put the whole blame of cutting up their road on to the contractor, but he should not lose sight of the fact that a large quantity of metal had been carted to the Whitauuui mill, and also that Mr Speirs, of Foxton, bad run his timber waggon very regularly. Outside of the flaxmillers there was not a great amount ot heavy traffic on the road.

Cr Prouse said the whole question was oue of adjustment. He was of opinion that the road should be reconstructed, as it was too low at present. Once the road was on a good solid foundation there shuuia ue no difficulty in connection wuu repairs. He was opposed to a Commission, aud he considered that au amicable arrangement could be come to between representatives of the two Counties.

Cr Stephenson said he wished to correct a misapprehension. It had been stated that the Mauawatu contractor had been stopped from carting by the Horowheuua Council. This was not so. They had asked him to either pay a wheel tax or repair the road after him, and he had refused, and stopped carting instead. On the suggestion of Cr McKenzie, it was decided that the delegates should report to their Councils and have the matter discussed at their next meetings, and then that a further conference be arranged.