CONCRETE TO MERCER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 881, 27 January 1930, Page 1

CONCRETE TO MERCER

HIGHWAYS BOARD’S OFFER COUNCIL NOT IMPRESSED Special to THE HUN PUKEKOHE, Saturday. An offer by the Main Highways Board to subsidise the concreting of the Great South Road from Papakura to Mercer, at a total estimated cost of £177,839, does not meet with the approval of the Franklin County Council. The council has deputed its chairman, Mr. J. N. Massey, M.P., to confer with the chairman of the Main Highways Board oh the subject. The board’s offer of subsidy is as follows: —Concreting from Papakura to northern end of Bombay Hills deviation, 7 miles 59 chains, estimated cost £90,150, highways subsidy £3 for £1; concrete bridges at Drury, estimated cost £6,600, highways subsidy, £2 for £1; concreting from northern end of Bombay Hills deviation to southern cjounty boundary, at Mercer, 9 miles, estimated cost £81,083, highways sufbsidy £3 for £l. The Highways Board is thus offering to find £132,829 toward the cost, on condition that the Franklin County finds the balance of £45,010. COST TO COUNCIL The county chairman, Mr. J. N. Massey, M.P., made it clear today that the council regardjed the board’s offer as inadequate. He said that to provide a loan of £145,010 for the work was estimated to involve the council in an annual charge for interest and sinking fund of £ 3,488. In addition, the council woaild have to face an annual contribution toward the cost of maintaining the concrete pavement and shoulders. This maintenance was estimated at not less than £BO a mile a year, a total of £1,340 for the 161 miles. Of this sum, the Highways Boaffd’s share would be approximately and the council’s £446. The council would thus have to find £3,488 a, year in interest and sinking fund, reckoned at 51 per cent, interest and 23 per cent, sinking fund, and £446 in maintenance, a total annual chargje of £3,934. In addition, it would, still have to keep open and maintain, over eight miles of the present roadj, as the proposed concrete road deviated from the present road for ovear half the length between Papakura and Mercer. MAINTENANCE CHARGES At present, the cost of maintaining the Great South Road through the county was approximately £5,700 a year. Of This, the Highways Board paid £3,8<)0 and the council £1,900. Acceptance of the present offer would involve tide ratepayers in an increase in the annual cost from £1,900 to £3,928. otr from £lls to £235 a mile. In addition to this there was the maintenance of the deviation to be considered. The council admitted that the maintenance costs of the present road were increasing each year. The following statement showed the increase during the past five years:—l92s (8 months -only), total cost £613, board’s share, t£229, council’s share, £314; 1926, £2,512, £1,289, £1,223; 1927, £3,937. £1,683, £2,254; 1927, £3,937, £1,683,, £2,254; 1928, £4,794, £3,346, £1,448j; 1929, £5,205, £1,900, £1,693; 1930 (approx.), £5,700, £3,800’, £1,909; total for five years eight months, £22,761, £13,929, £8,832. The council was not prepared to recommend the ratepayers to increase their liability for rates in respect of this one road by over £2,000 a year. During the year ended March 31, 1924, the year before the Main Highways Board commenced operations, the rates levied totalled £36,626. For the current year ending March 31, 1930, the amount levied was £49,351. Thus in spite of a share of the petroDtax and other motor taxation received, the ratepayers of the county ware finding £12,725 more a year than before the Highways Board commenced operations. In view of the large percentage of optside and through traffic using the threat South Road, the council was of the opinion that the Highways Board j should provide a larger subsidy toj ward the cost of concreting the road.