MOTOR ROADS WANTED

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 503, 6 February 1920, Page 2

MOTOR ROADS WANTED

WAYS OF GETTING THEttl. EXPERIMENTATION SUGGESTED ALSO NEW COUNCILLORS. PROM AKA AKA DISTRICT.

A deputation from Aka Aka waited on the Franklin County Council yesterday, asking that something be done on the Aka Aka Hermitage Road, Mr. S. Biddle acting as spokesman. This road, Mr. Biddle said had had practically no attention in the last 13 years.. Nine sections of land adjoined the road. The rates on five of the sections totalled nearly t9« > per annum. In the last six years the council had collected £suo in rates from these five owners. A decent road would mean progress for A man could not be expected to spend £7O on a waggon to be used on such a road. Formation was required. As at presei.t, the road was dangerous. The speaker would dig the drain for 20 chains and the council could have the spoil. The chairman (Cr. Claud Motion) agreed that the road should be formed. He would point out, however, that after general administration expenses and hospital rates, etc., were paid, probably only halt' the total would be available for road 'work. Cr. R. T. Reid said the chief trouble during the last few years had been to get teams, but such would be available within a week or

Mr. Biddle was thanked for his offer to dig the drain, and it was agreed to form the road right away. Mr. Biddle, as a member of'"the Aka Aka Drainage Board, said the drain by the road to the factory wns too close to the metal. It was desired to give Mr. Reed half a chain on one side and take from him naif a chain on the other in order to improve the road from the creamery to the factory. The counncil would be asked to- shift the over. The Drainage Board had a dredging scheme under "way to widen the drain to 25ft. A The Chairman: That so. presumably the board would contribute to the cost of Ihe road work ? Mr. Biddle: The matter has not been before the board yet, but he hoped a conference could be arranged later on.

The chairman said it was largely a matter of money and metal. Mr. Biddle also submitted that their rates were generally Id in the £l. In Waimate County the rates were but the roads were absolutely first-class. Roads would have to be made to suit the traffic. The chairman said that was just the trouble, and the council like to get information as to how it was practicable to provide improvements.

Mr. Biddle said that businesslike experimentations produced excellent results elsewhere .

The chairman replied that next November there would be an annual meeting of the council, and though he did not want to lose Cr. Reid, still, if there were men in Aka Aka who thought they could improve on the present administration and system of road work, next November would be the time for them to offer their services as councillors foi the ratepayers.

Cr. J. S. Mont.gomerie pointed out that the small holdings in Taranaki, at K2OO an acre, gave that area an immense lead. Mr. Biddle said there was stro ,g feeling among the ratepayers at Aka Aka that the present system was out of date, owing to motor trattv, and he believed they would be willing to be rated at Hid for really good modern roads. Aka Aka way a suitable area fo; experimentation.