HIGHWAYS PROBLEM.

Shannon News, 17 July 1928, Page 3

HIGHWAYS PROBLEM.

BOARD AND COUNCIL ENGAGED IN SOLUTION.

RIDINGS TO PAY ACCORDING TO VALUATION. DEPUTATION TO MEET MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS. Further action in the direction of obtaining relief from the burden of excess expenditure incurred in connection with the Main Highways construction was taken at the meeting of the Horowhenua County Council on Saturday, when a resolution was passed to declare the highways as main or .county roads. This was carried against " an amendment that such action be deferred and that the public works estimates be not passed until a favourable reply is received from the Highways Board to the Council’s request for money to complete the highways scheme. It was also resolved, on Cr. Jensen’s motion, to send a deputation to the Minis"ter cf Public Works, “to place before him,the injustice of the application of the petrol tax as it applies to this county; also the ; working of the Highways Act; and that Messrs Linklater and Field, M.’sP., be asked to arrange the deputation, preferably about the 25th inst.’’

The effect of the declaration .of the liiglrways as county roads is to place the responsibility for expenditure on the general fund, as a result of which the ridings Avill pay according to their valuation for the cost of construction of the portions of highway in their oAvn areas, instead of bearing the cost unconditionally. When the highways question Avas reopened at the meeting, the chairman stated that the Council had been able to,submit an- estimate to representatives of the Higlnvays Board, Avhich they had accepted. It Avas slightly less than the estimate mentioned at the previous meeting—£264,ooo for the Aviiole scheme —as it had been reduced by £20,000. The Board’s engineer, Mr Tyndall, Avould report to the Board on the estimate, and it Avas expected that the matter would come before the Board for decision on July 19th, , ■ ESTIMATES PASSED AND RATES STRUCK. INCREASED LEVIES IN ALL BUT TOKOMARU. RIDING. The estimates Avere passed, and the rates for the current, year Avere; struck as beloAV. Only in the Tokomaru riding do the rates remain the same as last year. In the other three ridings the rates are increased by the follow-ing-amounts on last. yearWi.rokino, l-32d; Otaki, 3-16 d; Te Horo, 5-32 d. GENERAL RATES, 1928-29. Tokomaru riding, 11-16 d in the £. Wiroldno riding, 23-32 d in the £• Otaki riding, 13-16 d in the £. Te Horo riding, 31-32 d in the £ —on the capital value of all rateable property in each riding. HOSPITAL AND CHARITABLE AID A rate of 7-32 d in the £ on the capital value of all rateable property in the county. SEPARATE RATPS. . A rate of 7-16 d in the £ an the rateable property in the HoroAvhenua \yater race district; And a rate of l-3d in the £ on the rateable property in the Hauterc Avater race district. For purposes of comparison, the rates in operation in the tAvo previous years

Full reports dealing Avith the estimates /and the discussion on the Main HigliAvays question Avill be published in subsequent issues.

are given below:- — 1 1926-27. 1927-28. Tokomaru ll-16ths. ll-16ths. Wirolcino ll-16ths. ll-16ths. Otaki fitllB. fths. Te Iioro 10-16ths. 13-16tlis. Hospital Water Race . ll-64ths. Districts: 8-45ths.

Horowhenua 7-16ths. 7-l(3tliS|. ITautere l-3rd. l-3rd.