MANAWATU GORGE ROAD.

Shannon News, 28 August 1925, Page 4

MANAWATU GORGE ROAD.

GOVERNMENT FIKDING ADDITIONAL £2420.

A special meeting of the Gorge Road Board of Control was held yesterday afterlioon in the Falmerston North Borough Council Chambers. There was before the Board-a letter from the Prime the Right Hon. J. Gj Coates), offering, to make a further subsidy Of £2420 if th<? Board i complete!, the rpad. Although he could t not commit the Main Highways Board, Mr. Coates. undertook to do what be could to have the road, when completed taken over by that body. • Consideration of the matter was Meld over pending a meeting (called* in conjunction with that of the Board) that day of representatives of contributing local bodies. This was largely attended and, following a, discussion <a majority in number passed a resolution that the offer be not accepted. ' It was pointed out that the additional grant would bring the Government's contribution up. to £1 for £1 on the original estimated cost of # the road before the local bodies decided to go in for a 21-foot road, so that there was really no foundation for dissatisfaction expressed: witb the latest amount Offered by the, GovernWhen the; Board resumed,its sitting,, notwithstanding- the resolution, passed; by the local authorities' representatives, it was decided to carry on and< complete the wcfcfc The chairman J (Trustee F. J. Nathan) drew attention, to the fact that, even if work were-,' suspended on September 12th (tlu date in Mr. O. McElroy's motion,] passed at the previous Board meetins) local bodies would have to flntl, £7ooo—overdraft £5660, wages ana; materials' £l.4<\o—in .any, case. With, the £3OOO Government ■"J* I** 1 ** J?*' paid over and the new grant of lf* 2 "> there would" be £5420 to come from, the Government, leaving a total liability of £B7OO for the local authorities, to raise and contribute. So. for the sake of the extra £I7OO. it didi-not, seem good business, to turn down the, Prime Minister's offer. The trustees, representing, the. larger contributing, bodies-Palmerston North, Borough Council rated at 24 per cent, and Kai-, ,ranga. County. .rate.d,at 10, per, cent;—, supported the viewpoint and the up-, shot was a resolution supported Wra, majority in value on the Board to complete the Work. The existing legislation provides for -' one-third of maintenance &■*>*«* highways to be found by local bodies, and two-thirds by the Main Highways, .Board. An amendment is, however, being brought down to, make the proportion flfty-flfty. Who. Pays the £B7po. The £B7OO required from local bodies based on the proportional charges in the trust deed will be

levied upon:— per Amount cent £ ' 24 2,088 Kairanga County . .. 10 870 Pahiatua County . 10 870 870 Woodville County .. 10 Oroua County S 696. Dannevirke Borough s 696 Pahiatua Borough .. 8 6*6 Woodville Borough .. 8 696 Feilding Borflugh, ... 5 435 , Rangitikei County .. 3 261 Dannevirke County .. 8, 261 Waipawa County. ... 3. 26jl 8.700