RAILWAY AND ROAD

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 219, 11 August 1939, Page 2

RAILWAY AND ROAD

BOROUGH COUNCIL’S SUPPORT DISCUSSION CAST NIGHT OR. JOHNSON’S STAND At last night’s meeting of the Opotiki Borough Council, C'r. F. J. Short referred to the question of tint railway and mid. He stated that a certain amount had been placed on the estimates for the railway and it looked its if nothing much was to he done. He had a resolution to put before the council which he considered would show the council was interested add was prepared to support the railway. Cr. Short then read the following resolution : “In view of the lac t that only the meagre sum of CoOOO appears on the Government estimates this year lor the construction of the TaneatunOpotiki railway, this council wishes to emphatically express its keen disappointment and would respectfully urge that a .sufficiently large sum he provided in the Supplementary FStimates to enable the construction of both the Railway and the realignment and tarsealing of the present highway from Opotiki to the railhead at Tnnoatna to be proceeded with at the earliest possible moment.”

Cr. .Johnson said that before Cr. Slant’s resolution was put ho was prepared to give part' of the informat'on Ivbr. Huitquist would have given bad lie been allowed to speak at the public meeting. When he (.the speaker. saw the estimates he was disappointed and wired the" Hon. P. .!• rasor, Acting-Prime Minister about the matter. lie got a wire back on Saturday morning (August o). Bast year an amount of onl.v £SOOO was put on the Supplemon tar.v Estiina I os. Cr. Short, (interrupting.'): The amount was £20.L00.

Continuing Cr. Johnson explained that the amount of £‘>.ol)l' placed on the estimates this year was only to pay for expenses incurred in the meantime. Cr. Short; There is no harm then in putting the resolution, Cr. Day said that it was ;t mistake in not allowing Mr. Huitquist to sneak at the public meeting. Everyone at piesent was in midair. Cr. Johnson (to Cr. Short") : You mentioned something about a tar-seal-ed road there. Personally 1 cannot associate myself with that— as lor as the road is concerned. Mr. Huitquist whs brought, all the way up In m Wellington and the meeting would notlisten to him. Cr. Day: I ih n’t see any harm in tile resolution. Or. Short to (r. Johnson): I thought you wei e in favour ol the road ! The motion was then seconded b.v Cr. Day. Cr. Johnson: You would not have been lei: down. The section will start when the other sections are cut out. and the machinery is available. After further comments. C'r. Johnson said, "If I doni’t voite on it 1 don’t want you to think J am opposed to it Cr. Johnson later said that the councillors could pat themselves on the hack because they were not represented at the meeting. The Mayor; The Borough Council is just as keen as any other local body or organisation about the railway and road. C’r. Johnson suggested that the public meeting was for the purpose oi getting an expression! ol public opinion on the coastal road. Cr. Short: No, not:, that. Cr. Johnson : Well, the letter from tiie council . . . perhaps I'd better not say any more. • The motion was carried. Cr. Johnson then suggested that Die resolution go through the member’s hands. The council agreed to do this.