"FIND THE WEAK SPOT."

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 49, 7 June 1910, Page 3

"FIND THE WEAK SPOT."

' OMATA RIDTXO FINANCES. SEARCHING ENQUIRY ASKED FOR.

The' Omata riding finances were again a prominent feature of yesterday's discussion* at the County Council meeting. The main discussion followed the motion tabled by Cr. C. Carter, as under: "That the Council employ a competent engineer, who shall report to the Council on the following: Firstly, as to the condition of the main road in the Omata and Okato ridings:

Secondly, as to quality of metal. (a) Whether metal supplied is being utilised to ensure permanent results. (b) What system is adopted by surfacemen in laying down new metal, and as to whether all new work is carried out with a view to a complete uniform road?

(c) What is the present width c-f metal? Are the roads narrower or wider thatt formerly? (d) Is the width of present metal adequate for' the safety of passing traffic ? (e) What cost per mile is necessary to maintain the road?

(f) Would less metal be required if hand-broken? State quantity in proportion. (g) Is the casual labor employed excessive?

(h) Is the ratepayer getting an adequate and fair return for the amount of rates contributed?

(i) What time of the year should contracts for metal supplies be carried out?

(j) And to report also on culverts and bridges." The mover said that at last meeting he had had something to say in criticism of the finances of this riding, but he was one of those who recognised that it was of no use for one to criticise unless one wa.3 prepared to try and bring about an improvement. He emphasised the point that he was endeavoring to.bring about that better state of thing's. The Tapuae and Oakura deviations, with their heavy ' expenditure, were "evergreen' at this table. He thought that the time had arrived for the Council to put its finger on the weak spot in the administration of the riding's affairs, and then, to put them on a better and sounder footing. He quoted from the chairman's annual returns to show that the amount of metal used on tne main road in '.'lis rilling had steadily increased in the past few vears. J2l JOOQ> .the road liatl swallowed up -2?3S> jni-fls of stone, in the next year •2407 yarcts, Sfii iii 1008 the amount \v.as 403(5 yards, but i>f thijs 1200 yds had been used at the Tapuae, !«*v"ni« 343G for the year. This year it was pwpfoje'rf to use 3400 yards, the smaller quafitJty being on account of the St. Aubyn towiiship (having taken over the maintenance of about a mile of the main road. He urged the Council to obtain an expert's report upon the many matters dealt with in his motion—matters which had caused much anxiety to the members of the Council. Or. Allanson seconded. He could not see* *gnite what the mover was driving at in the many clauses of his motion, but lie recognised the need for obtaining something definite, at least as far as his own riding was concerned. Cr. Andrews considered that obtaining a report would wfi useless expenditure. (Cr. Hopson: Hear, hear. That's what I think about it, too.) If Cr. Carter had looked carefully into the figures he would have discovered that the Oniata ratepayers' money had gone in the Tapuae and Oakura deviations—£4ooo in the first, and £3OOO in the other. Tim report would leave them just "as you were," and the ratepayers wouldn't benefit in the least by it. It would be quite easy to find ont how much of the cost of the two big works just mentioned had come out of the general fund. Cr. Hopson agreed, and said there was no doubt that the two deviations were responsible for the riding's indebtedness. As for the stone, no engineer's report could improve the quality of that, and he supposed they were using the best metal obtainable. The report would be waste- of money. Cr. Andrews added that the average cost of maintenance of road was £65 per mile. In the Omata riding the sost was £B4 per mile, which was very reasonable when the class of traffic was compared with that in other ridings. .Cr. Stevens gave the motion a qualified support. He would like a definite scheme formulated for work in this riding and the other ridings as well, with a view of bringing about a steady improvement from one end to the other. He hadn't much faith, though, "in the gentleman who goes along with the theodolite. A good old navvy knows a shocking lot more about roads." He thought that the object of the motion might be gained by consulting with the county foreman, and one matter he would commend to their notice—the taking pf levels with a view of grading some of the hills and thus reducing the cost of maintenance.

: Cr. Hill agreed that the deviations! had heen the cause of the downfall. This present Council, however, was not responsible, having mainly carried out a scheme formulated by a -previous Council, and tllose schemes had cost vastly more than had been estimated.

The chairman suggested that it would have been better had Cr. Carter given notice of this business, so that the Councillors, might have had time to go into the question. He agreed with the motion in some respects, and he also agreed with Cr. Stevens in that he had no very great opinion of "experts." Some of the neighboring counties had engineers, and their roads were no better than in this county. Tn fact, an engineer had told him that very day that the Taranaki County had the best roads between here and Marton. Possibly the Council would get better supervision of their work if I there was a good man in charge over the whole county. On the other hand, as Cr. Hopson had pointed out. all the engineers in the world couldn't improve the quality of the metal used. The l metal supply was a burning question. . The Hawera County Council was sendI ing into this county for metal, and paying from 13s to £1 a yard for it, but he didn't suppose it would pay the Omata riding to go to Sentry Hill for its metal. Cr. Andrews said that it wouldn't be possible to get the metal there even at that price.

Cr. Carter said there were evidently too many issues for the Councillors to grip at once. The meaning* of man'- of the clauses were purposely veiled. Br.t the Councillors seemed to have gvt "soft gravel on the brain." There was, however, a lot else in the motion. He would ask leave to hold over the motion till next ?nceting. He mentioned that there were numerous complaints from "the con-it" concerning the administration of the riding, and the Council/ ought to get to the bottom of it. to get at the weak spot, and strengthen it. Cr. Hopson had blamed the deviation.?,. He seemed to have quite forgotten that in the last year, some time after thesje

deviations, the riding had gone back by over £7OO. He had quite forgotten also that tlie ridiii<>' was now losing the St. Aubyn town district rates, lie didn't want to rub it in, but it was a fact that the riding had gone back just by the amount they used to get from the Hurwortli riding. Next year they would go to the bad by that amount, added to the amount lost in the St. Aubyn township separation! At the end of the year the poor old Omata riding would have a big baby to nurse. In concluding, he stated that his sole object was to do good for the riding, and he gave the other members credit for doing their best, trio —all in their different ways—to see that the ratepayers got the best returns for the rates they paid. Cr. Carter was given permission to hold the matter over till next meeting. In the meantime the clerk will get out certain information and circulate it among members, including some details concerning the Oakura and Tapuae deviations.