MAIN HIGHWAYS BILL.

Shannon News, 20 July 1923, Page 3

MAIN HIGHWAYS BILL.

FIXING DISTRICT BOUNDARIES

Saturday’s meeting of the Horowhenua County' Council -a letter was received from the ChieL Public Works Engineer stating that under section s of the. Ajain Highways Act, it wets proposed ,io divide the Dominion into of - which there would - probably be. eighteen. The Counties fthat- were proposed to be grouped should} as far as practicable, nave community of interest besides geographical and other characteristics im common. He a schedule showing the proposed grouping in this part of the country and/asked that the figures be verified. « The schedule embraced the. Wellington West- Highway District, grouping the <Makara., Hutt, Horowhenua, Manawatu, Kairanga, Oroua,i Pohangina and Kiwitea Counties., an area with •h total population of 32,133 people; an area pf 2397 square miles, a capital value of £25,670,000,. collecting ,rates to the extent of £9s,R|fi, and possessing 1847 miles oi metalled road and 140 miles uninetalled. Horowhenua is the largest of these counties, 534 square miles in area, and. capital value £5,446,000, though Hutt (6814) exceeds it in population, Horowhenua being 5449.”

The chairman, Cr. Monk said he considered that the boundaries "as suggested were about right as far as. community Qf interest was concerned. In answer to Cr. Harkness he considered it was a good thing to include the Hutt County, and he moved that Uhe boundries be agreed to. Until this was .done, the Highways Board could not proceed further with its work. Cr Harkness agreed that the matter should go forward but thought tlhat as this question of boundaries was a most important one it might be better if Councillors were furnished with copies -.of the proposal. Personally he would like time to consider the question. An important "pomt was whether the County was going to lose its individuality .and become merged with ; these others in a community ,of res- ' ponsibilityi For instance it was not desirable that they should be let in for a share of maintaining the Paekakakariki hill ■

The Chairman explained that the formation of a district as ; suggested at present, was merely for the purpose of getting together and deciding on which yfere to. be main highways, and to allocate .each County’s share of the necessary finances. He had| gone into the matter very carefully and considered the district, as suggested was - a very suitable one.. '"‘Afterfome further discussion it was decided ,lo agree to the proposed district.