ROADS AND RATES.

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 279, 14 March 1929, Page 5

ROADS AND RATES.

CONFLICT OF POLICY. \ Jgt Okoroire Deputation. What is known as Anderson’s road from Tapapa to Okoroire was the subject of a big- deputation of settlers and businessmen which waited on the Matamata County Council on Friday last. As the eleven filed in the chair- . man jocularly expressed the hope that they were not all going to -speak. . j “ Oh, .we’ve all got something to say,” stated a member, and it turned ■out most of them had. Mr. Willis stated they requested "that the , Tapapa-Okoroire road be finished so as to give a through road. 'They appreciated and recognised what the council had done during the past four years, but they wished to ■draw attention to the gap of two miles on this road, which gap nullified the advantage of the metal on ■either side. Mr. F. Rose began by stating it was only a small portion.' The chairman: Small portion? Continuing, Mr. Eose stated that when delivering they had to start, at one end and then come right back 1 and do the other end owing to the -gap. He might be speaking out of turn, as the council might have arranged for the work. Mr. Bear stated they had been put "to a lot of inconvenience owing to "the gap which would not be so expensive to do as other parts. Cr. Judd: Well, don’t you think we were wise in doing the worst parts first? Mr. Bear: Oh, yes. The chairman: You talk of a small job but it will cost £IOOO. We can’t put bur subsidy all on one road. , A voice: What about rates? The chairman: There is not suffleient. Cr. Allen explained that there were rates outstanding and some were written off last year. When he came Oh the council he decided to -start on one road; : and go right round. They got a grant from the Government fob permaheht work and if they patched out of rates they would lose the benefit of the grant. In his opinion patching was only wasting money. Motor traffic had completely changed the aspect of road-

. ing finance. Mr. Willis: This is an important

road, and the worst of its kind In the county. By not doing it they m/f ere risking a disorganisation of the Scream service. The chairman: That is happening 'all over the county. They all want round trips. Wheye they were satisfied with clay roads they are not now.

. A voice: This is the .only one that hasn't a round trip and it is an economically sound proposition to put it in order. The chairman: That’s what we want to do with the Government ■grant on rates. Mr. Willis: -Could it be fascined or . done up for this year to give the connecting link? The chairman explained that the -council’s policy was to conserve the rates so as to get a Government grant to enable permanent work to be done. Patchwork would only result in the money being wasted. Mr. Willis: Would it be possible to put on the metal a hit thinner ? The chairman: No; with a Government grant it has got to be solid. Mr. Eose: It appears then it cannot be done this year? The chairman: No. Continuing, the chairman explained that the total rates for the riding P were £786, and the cost of the two

miles £IOOO. Mr. Bear: Other roads are being -maintained at our expense. The engineer: It used to he the policy to patch over the winter and the money was lost. The policy now 4s to conserve the rates and get a Government grant and do permanent Mr. Willis: It might be against the policy, but this is a special case, being an arterial road. Cr. Judd: That’s the curse, the mftside traffic. Mr. Eose: ,1 think we can leave it to the council to do the best they They may possibly be able to the worst portions. The deputation then withdrew.