THE PUNI ROAD.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 177, 10 March 1914, Page 2

THE PUNI ROAD.

Problem of Its Upkeep. Should County Council s Assist ? At the lust meeting of the Franklin County Council a deputation from the Pukekohe Borough Council—the Mayor (Mr lawrie) and Cr Comrie-waited upon them to see if ths county would not rend.r eon-13 assistance towawh the

upkeep ct the Puni rjad. The argument for the torough was that this was a main arterial road currying through the borough the traffic of an important part uf the county. The Mayor said that lust time the borough representatives waited upon the County Council it wss to see if some contribution could not be got for West road. This time it was Puni road, which carried all the traffic from Puni, Aka Aka, and districts in that direction. This heavy traffic was getting to be a serious matter. They bad an estimate of £350 for making the road and they came to ask the Council to assist in getting the road in something like decent order. It was impossible to trtke £350 out of the general rate for one road. They approached the Pukekohe West Road Board who were favourable and two delegates from that body were to have been with the deputation that day, but had been ptevented. Cr Comrie explained that Pukekohe Koad Board, while sympathetic, said the matter was nuw out of their province. It was not for the borough ratepayers that they were making the request but for the people outside the borough fur whom a good Puni road would be a gieat benefit. It did nit matter much 10 the borough if the roaj were not made. The chairman of the County Council (Mr Motion) said that the tradespeople and olners in the borough largely usul the county roads, but the county "did not come to the borough for assistance. They might have a prosperous out-district without having a prosperous township, but Pukekohe was in the happy position of having a good district cutside. He did not so?, cither, how they could take the rates from any part of the c;unty and spend them in the borough. He added that when the borough took the road over it was in a very good condition, but eince the borough has been in operation they had spent no money upon it, and how could they expect it tu be good?

Cr Fulton said the application opened up a very big question. It woulJ take all the rates ihey got from outaid; the borough boundary to keep the rosds there in repair; he could not entertaii the idea of allowing any of their rates going to another local bodj. Cr Henall said they could nut legally do it. Cr Fulton, resuming, aaid this county was carrying all the traffic from Onewhero, Pukekawa, Wai ramarama and other places in the Raglan county and they welcomad the traffic. The chairman said the Council would consider the matter, but personally he did net feel disposed to give way one inch. Cr Henry said the position of the county vim very like that of the borough; they had unre roads than they could possibly make and mould have to keep their own rates for their owo roads.

After the deputation withdrew, the application was qucikly detlt with, the Council teing unanimously of opinion that nothing could be dune acd that the request could not be entertained.