ROADS IN GENERAL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 179, 17 March 1914, Page 1

ROADS IN GENERAL.

And Puni Road in Particular. The Foreman Speaks Out. From the Puni road in particular tj the borough roads in general was not "a far cry" fjr the Borough Council on Wednefday nghi. Incidentally, it may be mentioned that a few other subjects such as hnance, the road roller, the foreman's cuties, rnading policy, etc., were introduced into the discuesioon. At an early stage of the meetirg,

when asked if the Finance Committee had any report to make on the Puni

road, the Mayor said there was £4OO available for metal. He thought that £IOO should be spent on Edinburgh street, £l5O on King street, and £IOO on Puni road

Cr Hurley asked how the s:aiifur was workirg. The foreman said it gave great satisfaction, but metal was required to toil in after the scarifying. Cr Hurley wanted to know what the cost of the metal required after scarifying for Puni road would be. The foreman: It will coet about £2OO. Cr Hurley argued that the Council could not afford £2OO for the Puni road. Cr Comrie moved, lhat £IOO be spent on the road. If they did not roll in new metal after scarifying it the old metal would be knocked all ovfr the road. Cr Hamilton seconded the resolution. Cr Patterson opposed the motion. He wanted to know why Puni road was being scarified? Who ordered it to be done? Why had the foreman done it? Had they £IOO to spare? Ha did not think so. The County Council and the Read Board would not help them and this Council should let the road etop. Cr Pollock objected to this visw. The Puni road was entitled to fair treatment. An amendment that the matter be referred back to the Finance Committee for a further report, atd information to be obtained re rates paid by properties bordering on Puni street, was proposed and carried. Later on in the evening the foreman asked permission to speak. He said he took very strong excejtion to Cr Patterson's remarks. Was it expected that he was to run round the councillors every time he wanted to do some work? He had gone on with the scarifying of Puni road because it was badly needed. He intimated very plainly that he was tired of being continually heckled and if it was going on any longer the Counqil had better get somebody in his place. He wanted the Council to say what he was to do with the roller for the next fortnight.

Cr Hurley said the foreman was quite right, and the majority of the councillors appeared to be of the same opinion. Cr Patterson stated he had no desire to cast any reflections on the foreman, for he considered the foreman had more work on his hands than 10 foremen could do. He censured the Works Committee for not reporting what wa* being done. Be contended that it was useless scarifying unless they put on new metal and rolled it in, and then to do good work they must blind and water the metal prior to U3ing the roller. He contended that the foreman should get his instructions from the Works Committte.

The Mayor: You can't expect them to be in every day. Cr Patterson argued that they should give the foreman his orders for a fortnight ahead. He did not believe in the foreman going where he liked. Cr Pollock: Hasn't he been down Prospect Terrace? Cr Patterson: No; he hasn't. Cr Pollock: It's not your fault he hasn't.

Cr Patterson, continuing, urged that some one should be responsible. Cr Bilkey believed in giving the foreman a free hand in deciding which work he could do.

Cr Pollock wbs not prepared to go as far as that. He did not think any big work should be started without the Council's consent.

Cr Comrie explained Ih t the rol er arrived after the 1- at meeting. The foreman mentioned work which required doing and he told

him to go ahead. There wers pi nty of things which it was understood were to be done which wera not on the minute?. The foreman said he did not want a repetition of the heckling. 'lhe last thing he would do would be to take upon himself any big woik, but there wero any amount of small things tJ fix up, and when he did thes? to the best of his ability, and in the interests of the Ccunnl, he did rot like it being why had he done them without authoiity.

In reply to a question the foreman said it would take 250 yards of metal to put Puni road in fairly Rood order.

Cr Patterson: That's my point, you're involved to the extent of £125. We simj ly can't afford it. A discussion on roads which required repairs ensued, and a very lengthy list cf streets was mentioned.

Cr Hamiltqn had at intervah persistently pointed out the felly of scarifying Puni read and then net giving the foreman metal to complete the work. He suggesed that the Finance Committee report straight away and tha C uncil allocate the £4OO available. A very brief discu'fion across the table between the members of the Finance Committee resulted in the following report feing presented £IOO for Puni road, £IOO for Edinburgh itreet, £IOO tor King street, and the remaining £IOO to be kept in hane\ Cr Patterson carsidered £IOO was very littls for King street and again a'tacked Puni roal, considering that the piople were not paying anything like the rates elsswhere.

Cr Pollock: W liat confounded rot. (Laughter). Cr Patterson; Not a third of what we are paying in the centre of the town. If they want a road let them raise a loan. 1 am perfectly prepared to take the rates paid by King street ratepayers for keeping Kirg street in order.

Cr Bilkey: If you don't keep the outside roads h decent order you won't be able to get the people ir,to King street. Cr Pollock poict d out the Puni road people had raised a special rate. He moved, and Cr Comrie seconded, That the report be adopted. It was agreed that the £IOO for Puni road should include the cost of scarifying. Cr Beatty mentioned there was a road out his way on which tne earthwork had been formed and which required about 40 yards of metal. The Mayar did not think aiything could be done at present, but possibly the Council might be able to spare £2O. The foreman explained that he proposed to level and fortn Edinburgh street from Tobin sireet to King s'reet. He would mske a 30 foot road to be metalled with scoria 6 inches deep from side to tide, with two footpaths 15 feet wide.

Cr Conine did not believe in metalling the rOEd the full width. He advocated spending part of the mcney in Library road.

The foreman printed out that if they put down rcoria in Library road, and subsequently it was formed ti the permanent level to Harris etrEet, the scoria would be wasted. Councillors agreed that it was better to make the road from side to aide and endorsed the foreman's policy of doing a little but doing it well. Th? regolalicn to adopt the Finance C< rrmittee'd report was then put and carried.