MANAWATU COUNTY ROAD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3678, 16 August 1927, Page 3

MANAWATU COUNTY ROAD.

A RATEPAYER’S CRITICISM.

Mr. H. Schreiber, of Rongotea, criticises the Manawatu County Council’s circular letter to ratepayers as follows: “I have lived in the county for over 10 years and have observed the methods of road maintenance practised by the Manawatu County Council. The council certainly has plenty of money to spend and if they are getting a little short they can easily obtain more. The first loan I observed was that raised for an amqunt of £30,000 called the tramway loan. Of this £BOOO was to pay off a loss or deficiency incurred through the running of the train —and the tram still runs at a loss. The remaining £22,000 was to relay the line with heavy rails. The next loan I observed was the one for £60,000 which with the £.l for £1 subsidy would make £120,000 for construction and bitumen sealing of the main highways which run through the county. This was over two years ago and now we find that our council is not going to build or construct roads at all, but they have bought the machinery. Three railway engines, one rusting to destruction, one costing hundreds of pounds to repair and one too heavy for the line on account of excessive weight. There is also some road-ma'king machinery, road rollers—until recently there was one for years at Sandon tram shed but it was never used for road-making, just rusting away. The graders are used regularly to sweep the screened metal (which is used for repairing) back on to the road the day after it is put on. The motor traffic sweeps it off as fast as the roadmen put it on. This expenditure of money is quite unnecessary if the repair work is done in a proper manner with the machinery the county has. Having done this work myself, I cannot help noticing what is being done. There has never been a meeting of ratepayers called by any of the councillors or by the council for the purpose of raising money. A circular has been sent around, but a ratepayers’ meeting is being called by the ratepayers, and if Mr. Barber and the other members of the Manawatu County Council will accept their invitations and attend they will be given their opportunity to make speeches. I also note in the circular letter mention made of the Bulls-Sanson road. Ratepayers are asked to wait until this has been completed before they criticise the expenditure. The first three-quar-ters of a mile cost something like £3,000 so we have to wait until the 3£ miles are completed and the whole of the details are published. It should be good reading since the surface will be of stone, I understand. As for the policy of not constructing and bitumen sealing a road out of loan money because they are not sure that the road will stand until the loan has expired, if that is all that the council knows ' about the business end of road construction it is a pity they ever took a poll and raised the £60,000. I will be pleased to reply to any of the council members through the press or ati the meeting above mentioned.”