METAL SUPPLY FOR COUNTY.

Shannon News, 15 July 1927, Page 1

METAL SUPPLY FOR COUNTY.

HAULAGE ADDS CONSIDERABLY TO COST. THE SEARCH FOR A HANDY PIT. The need for a supply of metal from a pit in a central location exercised the minds of councillors at the monthly meeting of the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday, when Mr T. G. Vincent waited on the meeting on behalf of Mrs J. Prouse, on whose land the Council proposed to acquire a further site for a metal pit. Mr Vincent said he recognised that, whatever the Council might decide, it would be doing it from the very best of motives. The monetary consideration did not come into this question, which was entirely one of sentiment. On the Prouse property the Council had already had four pits. Three of these were either given to the old Wirokino Road Board or the County Council; the fourth pit the Council had just cleaned up. That pit. was practically given to the County; the price was £2O, which was nowhere near compensation for allowing an eyesore to be made in the middle of the property. The question of another site then arose. If the Council had had four pits on the Prouse property, was it not time they got one somewhere else? They could get metal within half a mile. He had been speaking to a man who was prepared to sell the Council a pit at a reasonable’price, about half a mile to the south. The further they went-from Queen Street, the further they would be from the water trouble. He understood that the bulk of the metal would be required for the Wirokino riding. Cr. Kilsby said he thought that Mr Vincent had put the position plainly before'.the Council, and it was a matter for them to go into. The position was an excellent one for metalling on the Arapaepae road, where a few thousand yards would be required.

The chairman suggested that the matter be referred back to the Works Committee. It appeared that there were a number of possible pits, and this question being raised was a means of their looking further into the matter; so it might be as well for the Works Committee to make further investigations. There was the pit on the Tararua road which was acquired in 1910 or 1911. At present he could not say what would be the outcome of Mr Vincent’s representations. He was very pleased to know that, whatever was done in this matter, Mr Vincent realised that the Council was not doing it out of any antagonism, but from a desire to serve the ratepayers to the best of its ability and as reasonably as possible. The Committee would go into the matter, and try to be fair to the Council and to Mrs Prouse. After Mr Vincent had thanked the Council and withdrawn, the chairman moved that the matter be referred'back to the Works Committee. He added that it was rather urgent that the Council should have a pit. The motion was seconded pro forma by Cr. Catley.

Cr. Jensen Mated that the Works Committee had visited the site on two occasions and had had figures-to show the enormous saving—running into hundreds of pounds per iftile. If they went further back for metal, they must bear in mind that their work was expensive work, and see that sufficient money was provided. Cr. McLeavey said that the Council should consider haulage every time. If they had to go a mile or a mile and ahalf further away, it was a serious matter.

Cr. Catley said the committee had viewed any site that had any possibility at all, and unanimously decided to adhere to its first decision. He would like to meet the wishes of Mrs Prouse, but he did not . think the Committee would be justified in altering its decision.

The chairman stated that he was quite prepared to withdraw his motion. He then moved that the members for the Wirokino riding, with himself, consider the question of the purchase of a metal pit on Mrs Prouse’s estate, Arapaepae road, 'With full power to act. This was carried.