MAIN SOUTH ROAD

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 210, 11 March 1912, Page 6

MAIN SOUTH ROAD

TRAMWAY SCHEME FAVORED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) A meeting of ratepayers was held in the Warea Hall on Thursday evening to hear and discuss proposals of the Egmont County Council in connection with the upkeep of the main roads. Mr. Cassie was voted to the chair. There was a good attendance, despite unfavorable weather.

Mr. Burgess, who was' appointed the County Council's delegate, pointed out that the traffic on the road had increased, and was likely to increase far faster than the revenue, to maintain it. In his opinion it was quite 1 impossible to maintain the road on ordinary revenue. Last year the expenditure in the Rahotu riding was 20 per cent, more than the revenue accruing to it, whilst the county overdraft was about up to its limit. As showing the effeet of the dairy traffic from Oaonui northwards "to New Plymouth, -the Northern Rahotu riding had a revenue of £l3O per mile, as againet a revenue of about £B3 in the Southern riding, and yet the overdraft of the riding was more than that of all the rest of the county put together. The proposals of the council were—first, a large loan of £40,000, the charges on which would be met by a special rate for 36 years; second, a large loan, secured by special rate, but paid for by the collection of tolls, and thirdly,' that the rates be increased to cover the expenditure.

The chairman endorsed the speaker's remarks re the lieavy traffic, but also thought the, exceptional wet season had made matters worse. He was not in favor of borrowing £40,000 to re-metal as? V'as suggested, because in five or six years another loan would be required for re-metalling. He thought the Eg- , mont County should join in the. Taranalu County Council's electric tram scheme. This would provide an economical and expeditious means 'of transport and transit. It would also increase the value of the land. His rates in six yearshad increased from £ll to £20." He pointed to the success of the Sandon tram (in which district he had resided, for many years) as an instance that tlio tram service was feasible. Numerous questions were 'asked and answered. The idea of a toll-gate was most unfavorably received, it being stated that' once they were erected nothing. could shift them. ' A voice: Only- dynamite! The various proposals were put to the meeting. On a show of hands ;tlve first two did sot receive a vote. The', meeting, however, expressed itself ■.in-; favor of the proposal to strike a epicial'i rate, if it was necessary to adopt either of the three schemes. On the motion of Messrs. W. Revell i and H. Pelham, it was unanimously rei solved that the Egmont County Council i be asked to join with the 'Taranaki ; County Council in the creation of - a tram service on the Main South road, ' and i that of the three schemes proposed . by the Egmont County Council an in- . creased rate be preferable if necessary > to repair the road in the meantime. The meeting decided to forward a vote j of thanks to Mr. D. McAllum for brdngI ing forward the tramway scheme. 3 Votes of thanks were also accorded . Mr. Burgess and the chairman, j A meeting will be called shortly of I Warea and Pungarehu ratepayers, when e delegates will be appointed to address meetings on the tramway question along 1 the coast. 8