PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 348, 25 January 1918, Page 4

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Monthly Meeting At the ordinary monthly meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council held in the Council Chamber on Wednesday last there were present the Mayor (th H. G. R. Mason), Crs A. B. Barter, D. R. Hamilton, G. H. Armstrong, R. Bilkey, F. J. Morrow, J. Patterson and J. T. Stembrige with the Town Clerk (Mr J. F. Deane). cr. Hamilton's return Before commencing the business of the Council the Mayor expressed the pleasure of the Council at seeing Cr Hamilton present after his recent serious illness. Cr Hamilton thanked the Council for the kind sentiments expressed towards him. A MUDDY ROAD Mrs Jessie Young, of Rosebank, wrote reminding the Council of their promise to repair the road leading to her property as soon as the weather improved and asked that the work should be done. She pointed out that throughout last winter she had to sledge the cream out, it being impossible to use the dray owing to the excessive amount of mud on the road. She added that the workers on the farm were all women.

The Mayor remarked that it was decided some time ago that some improvement should be effected to the road. Cr Patterson said that some improvement should have been carried out but owing to the rough weather last winter it was left over to be done during the summer. He expressed the opinion that the road should be drained and raised. Cr Stembridge suggested that before the question was considered some statement as to the financial position of the Borough should be made. The Mayor replied that already about £SOO bad been expended on roads in excess of the Council's estimate and at the present rate of progress the Council would soon be £IOOO above their estimate. He feared that unless the Council were very careful they would exceed the legal amount allowed for their Bank overdraft.

Cr Bilkey thought it would be better to borrow the money as he considered that the work should be done before the coming winter. The Mayor remarked that no new works could be entertained at the present time owing to the Council's financial position. Cr Patterson said that he did not know of any more urgent work, to which Cr Barter humorously replied that he had heard the speaker use the same words about other roads (laughter). Cr Hamilton enquired whether the work was to be a cheap job or was to be done well. All Road Boards and Councils were criticised owing to the way they patched roads instead of making; a good road which was cheaper in the end. He hoped that the Council would try and make this road to fit in with some permanent scheme.

The Mayor remarked that the repair to the road would be such that it would not be undone soon after. After some informal discussion on the motion of Or Hamilton it was decided to refer the matter to the Works Committee to report on an alternative scheme for the improvement of the road in question and to submit an estimate of the cost.

STATION APPROACH ROAD With reference to the Council's ecerit interview with the Prime Minister (the Rt Hon W. F. Maasey) relative to the Council's request for the future widening of the approach road from East street to the railway station Mr Massey forwarded a letter from the Minister of Railways (the Hon W. H. Herries), which read as follows: " The approach road from East street is entirely on railway property. The Borough Council represents that in view of the possibility of Pukekohe being an island station it is desirable to have a 66ft approach road from East street instead of the present 33ft road. The Department in connection with other work is negotiating for the acquirement of certain lands which will enable it to widen the road for part of its length and have offered to incur this expenditure provided the Borough Council will acquire sufficient land to widen the rest of the approach road so as to make it of uniform width throughout, the Council to take over the control and maintenance of the road. The Borough Council has failed to accept the Department's offer and the Department cannot see its way to undertake the whole cost of the work, particularly in view of the fact that the present approach road is of sufficient width to cope with the railway traffic." After the reading of the letter the Mayor remarked that the Department somehow failed to understand the Council's wishes. The Council were not specially anxious to have a 66 feet road and it was not a question of widening the road but when the line was duplicated it was hoped that a better access would be providedito the station. After some discussion iu which it was clear there was some misunderstanding on the part of the Department as to the wishes of the Council it was resolved on the motion of Cr Hamilton that the matter should be referred to the Works Committee with a suggestion that the Council's position should 1m per-ouully explained to the Railway District, Engineer (Mr Mcintosh)

IIINSAi'ISFIKI) I'.AIKI'AYKHS A deputation consisting of Messrs R F. Webster, 0. Wake and J. B. j Brown, representing the Pukekohe Ratepayers Association, waited on tho Uouneil and complained of the injusticp which they felt would be done them by tho proposed charge j by the Council to certain owners of | property tor kerb in g and channeling in front of their properties Mr Webster said the deputation regarded th« charge as au unfair one and iiskud the Council to reconsider the resolution passed ami to rescind I it. Home of the properties a fleeted | by the proposed charge, he said, had I already been affected by loans and I lie argued that the charges for improvement to their piopeities should Ibe pniil For out of loan moneys, lie 4

asked k that the resolution passed by the Council should be rescinded and that they should be relieved from their unfair position. Mr Brown supported the remarks of the previous speaker and added that some of the paths proposed to be kerbed and channelled had already had some work done to them. Mr Webster, referring to a meeting of a former Council, said that an undertaking was given that there would* be no increase in the charges made to the ratepayers. There had been an increase and he regarded the present as an unfair proceeding. The Mayor remarked that the estimates of the cost were based on the possibility of getting a contribution froip the owners.

Cr Barter enquired if the resolution with regard to the proposed work was passed by the previous Council before the loans were approved and was informed that such was the case. Continuing, Cr Barter pointed out that rates and charges were two different things but Mr Webster appeared to regard them as the same. The Counfeil were not bound by the statement of one Councillor as was the case to which Mr Webster referred. The Mayor remarked that the loan policy was the means adopted to avoid the increase of rates.

Cr Hamilton argued that most of the roads were only used by the residents who derived the benefit therefrom. There were ratepayers who were paying for a loan and getting no direct benefit. The Mayor said either the general ratepayers or the frontagers had to pay for kerbing and channeling and the latter considerably benefited. Cr Stembridge did not agree with the proposed charge and argued that the work done was for the benefit of the road. He was in favour of rescinding the motion. Mr Blake, who regarded the charge as an injustice, mentioned that when he voted for the loan he understood that there would be no charge to owners. He contended that the charge should be borne by the borough. The Mayor mentioned that apart from the question of injustice if the contribution by the frontager was not made it meant that the kerbing and channelling could not be undertaken.

Mr Brown, speaking for the deputation, said that if the owners of property in Seddon street and King street had been charged that deputation would not have been there. Cr Barter contended if the resolution were rescinded it would mean thatPukekohe would have to go back, The kerbing and channelling would be an improvement and as the owners benefited he thought they should contribute half the cost.

After further discussion the Mayor moved a resolution, which was seconded by Cr Barter, "that the deputation be informed that the Council were unable to grant their request" Cr Patterson proposed as an amend ment, and Cr Stembridge seconded, " that the Council regard the request of the deputation as fair and equitable." The amendment on being put was lost, only the mover and seconder voting for it. The original motion was then carried, Crs Patterson and Stembridge dissenting. morrow's road Cr Morrow enquired if any tenders had been* received in respect of work en Morrow's road and was informed in the negative.

ACCOUNTS Accounts amounting to £409 4s 9d were passed for payment.