OAKURA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 114, 3 November 1911, Page 8

OAKURA ROAD BOARD.

TO MERGE INTO THE OOIJNTY.

A meeting of ratepayers of the Oakura road district was held in the Oakura Hall last night for the purpose of discussing the advisability of abolishing the Oakura Road Board and merging with the Taranaki Oounty Council. There were about thirty ratepayers present. I Mr. Adlam was voted to the chair. Cr.l McAllum attended the meeting. I The chairman explained the object of the meeting l . Personally, he was in favor of merging, which he considered would be beneficial. They would save the heavy cost of administration and thus have more money to spend on the roads which would be kept in better order, as they would have a man per-' manently employed to look after them. The county would strike one rate over the whole district. Before merging, however, it would necessary to have a petition signed by more than half the ratepavers representing more than half the valuation. He read a copy of the proposed petition, and called on Mr. McAllum, as a ratepayer of a road district which had recently merged, to explain the necessary procedure. - Mr. McAllum explained that he was present not as a member of the County Council but as a ratepayer. He was not parochial, and believed that as a representative of the ratepayers it was his duty 'to do his utmost for the interests of the whole county and not for any particular part. He pointed out that Cr. Andrews represented their riding. As a ratepayer he referred to the advantages to be derived from merging, and referred them to the Barrett, Hurford, Oinata and Egmont road districts, which had merged into the county some time ago, and so satisfied were they that he could safely say not a single ratepayer would care to revert to the old system. If they went over the roads they would find that they were in a better state than ever before. In fact, more had been done to some of the roads during the last twelve months than in the previous year—a strong argument in favor of county management He also stated that he (Cr. McAllum) was going to bring forward a scheme whereby the Okato riding would get another surfaceman, and if thin merging took effect they would. certainly get a second man. He considered that Foreman Brosnan, though an exceptionally good man, could not possibly do justice to the work, as the grades were heavy and so was the traffic on his length. He did not think that he would be committing a 'breach of confidence if he informed them that the casual labor in that riding was more than any other, viz. £IBO, and an extra man could be permanently employed for about £ 140. He detailed the steps necessary to effect the merging, and pointed out the necessity for pushing the matter forward without delay so as to give effect to the petition for merging by March 31, 1912. Mr. Blackhall asked what was the difference in rating under the County Council and under the old Road Board., Mr. McAllum said that the Barrett rate had decreased, and Hurford and Omata increased. The County Council could rate up to ly„d, and so could the road boards. The usual thing was %d and %d district rate. He pointed out that the main road cost fully £IOO per mile to keep in repair, and this took fully the %d rate. The by-roads depended on what the road boards struck. He considered a %d vote and good roads much better than a %d rate and bad roads.

Mr. Blackball asked if he considered a %d rate and bad roads, such as they had now, good policy. Personally, he favored merging, as it meant better attention and better roads. They did not expect metal everywhere, but passable ones. Now he would not go to the factory without taking a spade to die! the cart out.

Mr. F. Smart, chairman of the Oakura Road Board, explained that the board formerly struck a y t d rate, and, as a result, when he took the chair, was in debt £154. They had to increase the rate to %d to wipe this off, and so could noit spend an increased amount on the roads. He was greatly in favor of merging. i

Mr. Blackball pointed out that Tataramaika Road Board worked on a '/< d rate,. 1 and if one could do so surely another could. I The chairman pointed out that two years ago a flood had caused some extraordinary damage, and carried away, bridges and culverts, which had to be re-' placed. He also said that some of the rate was spent in "inud slinging," i.e.,' throwing mud where there was already mud. A farthing rate only realised. £lO3, and when the administration ex-' penses were paid there was not much left for the roads, which, of course ' were allowed to g. O back. The traffic now was different to what it was a few years back, when a settler made his' butter and went to town, say, once a week. If .they wanted good roads they 1 must pay for them, and though merlin'* would not benefit him, yet it would bene°; fit his neighbors at the back, and lie was therefore in favor of it. ;'

Mi. Blackball moved that the ratepayers of 'the Oakura road district take the necessary steps to merge into the Tara-I naki County, and that all present sign the petition. | Mr T Smart, in seconding, asked if Cr. McAllum had any idea how the! county would work the districts. Would a man he put on the by-roads? If the I settlers received no benefit they would piobablv not sign the petition. Mr. McAllum remarked that he had' made this clear. (

In reply to further questions Mr. McAllum pointed out that already a portion oi the Oakura road district was applying to merge into the Hurworth riding, lie also clearly gave them to understand that all rates levied in the county became county funds and could, if necessary, be expended on the main arterial road I-Ie had fought against this, and maintained that money should be expended where levied. The motion was carried. Mr. O. A. Adlain was appointed to obtain signatures to the petition at a remuneration of one shilling per si<ma-| tuie, to ibe paid -by the ratepayer sign-! ing. ° I Twenty signed the petition in the room. i Votes of thanks to Mr. McAllum and' the chairman concluded the meeting. I