THE OTAKI BRIDGE.

Otaki Mail, 9 March 1923, Page 3

THE OTAKI BRIDGE.

PROTEST AGAINST CLOSING. At the meeting of farmers at Te Horo yesterday Air Evelyn Alacdonald referred to the possible closing of the Otaki traffic bridge, and was pleased Crs. Ryder and Harkness were present to hear any criticism. Alany, he said, passed over the bridge, and it would bo no good complaining after it had been closed. It would be a very serious thing to have the bridge closed, and it appeared to him that the Council did not recognise its responsibility. Persons finding they could not get over were likely to become disagreeable, es- , pi'cially if coining from long distances. The Council held it would cost more if opened for traffic during repairs, but, personally, he saw no reason why this should be so. There was no reason why the bridge could not be opened morning and night, and perhaps for an hour at lunch time. He suggested that a temporary platform be erected which could be put over a gap and moved on as repairs were being effected. It was, ho considered, the ratepayers’ duty to frame a resolution of protest. Air Watson said he understood that ■ the Council had arranged for a meet- 1 ing with ratepayers to discuss matters j prior to the closing of the structure. Air Jensen said he was pleased the question had been opened for discussion—it was an important matter. If the bridge was closed it would be a hardship (o storekeepers, and once a farmer changed his business place he would not care to go back. It was not fair to school children that the bridge should be closed, daily mails could not j be carried, while their pleasures would j be curtailed. (A voice: Cut them outl) Mr Jensen, continuing, said the Engineer had done nothing definite ns yet, and they had the assurance of the Chairman and Engineer that nothing would be done re closing before n meeting was called. It was unfair to think j the ratepayers had not sufficient confi- j deuce in the Council. t . Cr. C. I. Harkness said the matter ; was one which had been discussed by j the Council, and it had been decided to ( meet ratepayers before takiig definite I action. He had already asked that pro-I vision be made for through traffic, but tlie Engineer had advised that repairs ; could not be. done without closing the bridge. All could rest assured that the matter would be well considered and the ratepayers called together by advertisement. Nothing would, how- | ever, be done till the return of the En- j giiiecr. He was pleased to have con- : . struetive criticism before anything ] was done, not after, and he considered ’ ' it the duty of Councillors to listen to criticism and take advantage of it.

Cr. Ryder spoke on similar lines, and said he would do his best in the interests of the ratepayers. Air Alacdonald hoped the discussion would do good—it would at least show that the Councillors and Engineer were being watched. He was also pleased to learn that there was a possibility of things being alright.