KARAKA.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 168, 25 April 1916, Page 2

KARAKA.

SHOULD KARAKA MERGE : RATEPAYERS' MEETING. At the Karaka sohoolhouie on Friday evening, a fair number of ratepayers being present, Crs J. Flanagan (chairman) and J. Henry, of the Franklin County Council, dealt with the suggested merging of the Karaka district into the County of Franklin. Mr J. Batty was elucted to tho chair.

Cr Flanagan, in introducing tho subject, said that in accordance with a resolution passed by the Franklin County Council to hold meetings in uumorgod districts in connection with tho merging thereof, two meetings, one at Opah9ko and tho other at Pokeuo, had been held and both decided to merge. He was not there to cast retlectioas on Road Boards, which, considering the maaus at their disposal, had done well. As far as tho Karaka Road Board was concerned it had doveloped a backward district to a remarkable stage. Cr Flanagan proceeded to refer to the subsidy disabilities under which tho County Council suffered through having Road Boards in existence in its district and pointed out that if all the Road Boards merged the increased subsidy that would be due would be of benefit all round. Proceeding, he admitted that the Karaka district had not received full justice from tho Council in the past from one cause or another, but he said the present Council was fully determined to see justice done to it, and they would got every penny they were justly entitled to. By merging, he said, the Karaka district would be £250 better off than at present and would not have the road rate to pay. If the weather rtmained fine they hoped to metal tho Karaka-Waiau road as far as the Black bridge. The Council had that yoar allocated more for Karaka than the rates.

Cr Henry followed and contended that there were real and substantial benefits to be gained by merging. Under dual control the ratepayers had to contend with two rates which were unsatisfactory inasmuch as while paying their portion of the upkeep of buildings, plant, etc., and engineer they derived little benefit whereas if they merged the benefits would be considerably enhanced, Ihe object of ratepayers was to got value for their money, but in remaining out there was the loss of subsidy. The Road Boards that had merged would not depart from the present system it' they had their choice. Already that year, he said, between £7OO and £BOO had been allocated for expenditure iu the district. The benefits to be received by way of extra subsidies and grauts were a big consideration. Ihe Council had always been solicitous in seeing that application was made for urgent works. One had been obtained for McPherson's bridge but the Council could not at present subsidise it £ for £. He however, hoped to ger it revoted and a concrete bridge erected in the place of the present bridge. In reply to a question, Cr Flanagan said that the cutting of the County into 1 2 ridings instead of 8 as at present would bo a most diificult proceeding, bocauso probably every riding iu the Connty would have to be altered, aud that would give rise to endless bickering and dissatisfaction amongst the ratepayers. He added that neithor ho nor Cr Homy were in any way opposed to fresh ridings, provided the same could be accomplished with satisfaction to all. Cr Flanagan also promised that if the distiict merged a permanent surfaceman would be*,, appointed to work iu the district and to attend to the repair of roads aud bridges. Mr Batty expressed dissatisfaction with the present system of dual coutrol, and said that they hoj had oxSerience of the district sjuder the laraka Road Board) and if-tfitiy thought thoy could change to e better authority they should change. Mr Halliday suggested that a petition in favour of mergiug should be submitted to the ratepayers, and Mr Jamieson supported the suggestion.

The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the speaker*, on the proposal of Mr Batty,