MAIN BOROUGH ROADS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 129, 19 September 1913, Page 4

MAIN BOROUGH ROADS.

Problem of Their Upkeep. Should The County Contribute ? Deputation to County Council. At tha last meeting of the Franklin County Council the Mayor (Mr Lawtie) and Ci C'omria weited upon th 3 Council in connection with the heavy upkeep of the main borough reals, r.amelv, West street, Puni road and East street. The Major explained that the Borough Council ccr.sid red that the County Council shculd contribute Eonutt.irg towards the upkeep of these roads. The traffic from tha county ever the borough roads was very heavf. They had no figures to submit, but thought that a conference between tha two bodies should be arranged to discuss the proposed c:ntributicn. Tne Patumahoa trsffic, for instance, was growing all the tim?, and this meant extra wear on the fcorougjj roads. Mr Moiicn said the borough should not lose sight of t'e feet that outsiders we-e coming in and were drawing traffic with them; otherwise Pukekohe woulJ not be going ahead as it was. The Mayor said they expected that argument, but so much was'coming over the roads that the local people could not keep the roads up. The chairman said this Council would give the reqatst every consideration, but they had to look to the condition of the ro&di outside the borough boundary. The Mayor said that the legal way out of the difficulty was to ge: a Commission to go i'-to the ma'ter. and bring it to an issue. But the borough would prefer aa amicable discussion to Bee if some arrangement could rot be arriv. d at. Would this Council appoint delegates to meet representatives Irom the Borough Council and go into the matter thoroughly? Cr Campbell suggested that the lorough should 6ubmit its proposition in writi g, to te dealt with by the County Coun:il at its next meeting. Cr Comrie (borough) said it wan questionable whether tha borough could frame its request in writing at the present stoge. Cr Lyors (with eyes laughing at the Mayor): These land agents get flying about the country in motorcars snd do a lot of damage to the road 3. He ac'did: Seeing that the towrs are living on the country,

what sioui'i wo do? What wruld Ihis borou«h co if the farmeis tuck their t ado to Tuatau? Pukikohe was cot the hut) ot »he universe.

Mr Motion: ihe branch railway is the way out c f the difficulty. With the understanding that a committee would be appointed to confer v. ith tha br rough the deputation withdrew. Tha chairman remarked tl:at it waal ke a drowning man grasping at a straw.

Cr Flanagan said he would much ratl er let the matter go to a Commission if the borough so desired it. Cr Wilcox was not prepared to concede anything. For years and years h s road district had had to carry out,'iij traffic from Bombay, and now they w::te carrying Raglan traffic. Mr Motion: Tiuy should be phased to have our business.'

Cr Wilcox: They should be glad to have us putting our offices up in Pukekohe.

Finally, the chairman, Crs Henry, Wilcox, Fulton and Higginson were named as a committee to meat representatives from the Borough C u:.cil on the morning of ths next County Council meeting. AT THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Tne Mayer reported that a deputation had waited on the County Council. They had been met in a very friendly spirit; "they would no, commit themselves, neither did we."

The Mayor, Crs Cornris, Hamilton, Abbott and Patienon were appointed to confer with ths county representatives. LEGAL ADVICE.

The borough solicitor, Messrs Endean ar.d Holloway, wrote a=« follows

"We have considered the questions raised by you in your letter of ihe 22nd jit., and have to advise as follows:~ "1. Your Council's tight to a contiibution from the County Council towards the upkeep of main roads whi'h ara extensively used by county ratepayero is governed by saction 109 of the Public Woiks Act, 1908. That section is clear, and it is for the Governor to datermine if it is eauitabie that such contribution shculd be given and in what proportion such contribution should be made by the local authoriiics. The procedure is set out in section 120 of the Act. We refer you to that section and particularly to sub-section 6 thereof. Perhaps it wculd be 9dvisatle to write to tha Minister of Public Works, who might give <;ome information as to what is likely to be done. "You will note that under section 109 the road from the cna district must be largely used by or for the purpose of traffic to or from the other district, and must afford access to or from such district. It will probably be necessary to show to what extent the roßd is used as aforesaid, and for that purpose a tally could be made for a given time to check the number of persons and vehicles travelling to and from tha other distikt. The whole matter is a question of fact ard entirely for the Governor, and with the information before us we can give no further information on the matter.