TAR-SEALING MAIN HIGHWAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 718, 18 July 1929, Page 7

TAR-SEALING MAIN HIGHWAY

PIAKO RATEPAYERS TO DECIDE An important offer from the Main Highways Board was discussed at length at the meeting of the Piako County Council yesterday. The board offered a subsidy to the extent of £2 for £1 for re-sealing three and a-half miles of the Te Aroha-Hamilton highway in the Waitoa Riding, and further to lend the council its portion of the cost for a period of five years. The member for the Waitoa Riding, said that the period was too short, and if accepted would mean that out of a total revenue for his .riding of £3,500, he would have to find £l,lOO a year over a period of five years for the main highway alone. This would mean neglecting the side roads. Urging that the council accept the 'offer, the chairman said that the riding would be relieved of unduly heavy payments by working upon overdrafts backed by the county for a further, five years. This would place the tiding in practically the same position it would be in if the Highways Board had agreed to advance the money for a 10-year period. After a protracted discussion in which it was emphasised that in due course the whole of the county highway would become tar-sealed, it was decided that the riding members concerned call meetings of their respective ratepayers with a view to arriving at some method of finding the council’s share of the money required. Cr. Walters said that he would accept the offer and avail himself of the council’s guarantee of a further period of five years. By going to the ratepayers it will be discovered whether the property owners on the main road are agreeable to paying an extra penny in the £1 as a special rate for the purpose of sealing, .