"BOARD GONE MAD”
HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION COUNTY CRITICISM - GISBORNE, DISTRICT WORK V, - ■ .. '. " \ - - ■' * . : . ■ ' •SPEEDING UP URGED An allegation that the Main Highways Board had “gone mad” with highway expenditure) was made at the Cook County Council’s meeting held at Gisborne recently, and, with certain reservations, the statement received. fairly general support among the councillors. The council, however, supporce.H a Waikoliu agitation to secure more rapid improvement to the State highway between Napier and Opotiki, which was below the standard of safety,' Init did so subject to a protest against undue unnecessary expenditure throughout the Dominion. • The Waikoliu County Council sought support to an application for a more, rapid improvement in the State highway between Napier and Opotiki, a letter lromJ.be Waikoliu council pointing to a Jack of bitumen sealing and the need for regrading, particularly bn Otokoi Hill and on certain sections between Wairpo. and Napier, and the
dangerous condition of some of the temporary bridges. “Compared with other sections of •State highway,” the letter continued, “this council ' considers that State highway No l . 15 is entitled to mpre rapid development, especially: district served by it has no railway -facilities at preseht.” ~ _ Programme of the Board “I think the Main Highways Hoard has gone completely mad,” said Or. M. T. B. Hall, who referred to unnecessary deviation work and an extravagant programme; throughout the Dominion. It was- proposed to spend £5,000,000 during the coming year, he added. Too much of the ratepayers’ money was going, on to main highways. A portion of the petrol, tax should be used toi maintain the highways in their present condition and the remainder usedt to help the county councils. Cr. G. V. Smith said that so long as such jobs were going on the district should obtain its share.
The chairman, Cr. W. G. Slierratt, agreed with Or. G. V. Smith.
C!r. Baker said that many of the highway wprks were grossly extravagant, but many of the sections of the State highway- between .Napier and Gisborne were well below a reasonable highway standard. At the same time, the council should protest against the lack of a reasonable highway standard, for the Main Highways Board had gone well beyond that standard in many places. Councillors agreed that the district should have its share
of work, and that no obstacles should be put in the way of more money coming to the district. ‘‘Narrow Point of View" “I think- council!,ors are looking at it-from a narrow point of view,” said Cr. F. S. Boiwen, who added that the weak 'bridges on the Wairoa-Napier section had been left deliberately to avoid heavy traffic on the road and to force it on to the railway. The Gisborne district had been lighting for a railway, and at the same cpiests were being made for a . read that would carry heavy traffic, finch wool had been carted to Napier by road, and this should not be allowed when the railway was available to/do the job. The Waikoliu County Council’s resolution was supported, subject to the following being included: “That while this council is of the opinion that much of the highway construction in . the Dominion is beyondi the needs of pres-ent-day transport, we also consider that the access to this district is below the standard of safety.”
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Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 198, 23 June 1939, Page 4
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545"BOARD GONE MAD” Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 198, 23 June 1939, Page 4
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