THE ROADING QUESTION

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 243, 13 April 1912, Page 6

THE ROADING QUESTION

METALLING BY SPECIAL LOAN. POSITION OF THE FAR-BACK SETTLER. The raising of a loan of £IOOO, which is to be subsidised by a Government grant of £IOOO, to metal about 2!/i miles of the Uruti Road from the Uruti store to the Moki bridge, occupied the Clifton County Council some considerable time yesterday afternoon, or rather the area of land that was to be made responsible for its repayment was the principal, in fact the only, bone of contention, because all seemed to argue that the metal would be an advantage. A deputation, which comprised petitioners and objectors in equal numbers, waited on the council. Messrs R. Kirton, R. McKenzie, and C. Barnitt represented the former, and Messrs A. Miller, W. A. Bone and J. H. Slight comprised the bulk of the latter.

Mr. Kirton, who was the principal spokesman in favor, said that they had endeavored to treat everyone fairly in drawing up the rating area, and he thought the only feasible grounds that anyone had for objection might be that they were on a 6ft. track and would not gain direct benefit. He pointed out that in previous loans settlers on 6ft. tracks had been included, and the council could not exempt for this reason without creating a precedent. They had taken the area back for a distance of eleven miles, so as to make t 1 " 1 rate late, and the number of settlers • ' the Moki Road \ on a 6ft. track who 1 d agreed to inclusion was 9 as acrainst 4 on the Tangitu Road. Cr. Gleeson pointed out that the Moki settlers had more chance of getting a dray road than the Tangitu Road settlers, who were blocked by a bluff which required an expensive deviation. Mr. Kirton considered that there werej more dangerous bluffs on the Moki Road, i There had been squabbling for years over | the metalling. Personally he did noti think a fairer scheme could be devised, and if the loan was not put through now,. it never would be. They had a big ma-1 jority in favor, but he emphasised the fact that if uny settler withdrew the i loan would not be gone on with. ' Mr. McKenzie pointed out the saving there would be in the upkeep of the road if these 2% miles were metalled, as more money would thus he available out of the £4OO rates collected for the upkeep of the rest. Mr. Barnett pointed out that in the proposed area there were 27 settlers, with a valuation of £55,000. Of the number, 23, with a valuation of £46,000, were in favor, and 4, with a valuation of £9.000, were opposed. He also pointed out that when the Mimi-Mokau loan was put through, settlers on 6ft. tracks were included, and all agreed to the loan.

Mr.. Slight pointed out that he was four miles away, over an impassable ridge, where he merely had a pig track. His outlet wag really Kiore. It would be years before he had a road to Uruti—if he ever did have one. He had been a backblocker all his life, and never heard of a man on a 4ft. or Gft. track paying a special rate. It was also pointed out that the other objector, Hayes, was paying a special rate to the Okoke Road. Cr. O'Sullivan considered that the settlers should be anxious to hel,p themselves when they got £IOOO on a £ for £ subsidy. This had been on the estimates for 5 or 0 years, and would be there for 20 year's unlese the people were more progressive. Mr Bone said the metal was no earthly use to him, as the 12ft. road was 2% miles from his boundary. If the deviation was through he would still be cut off. Mr. Kennington pointed out the hardships of the far-back man. If it cost y 4 d rate to metal the first two miles, what would it cost the back-man who was 10 miles away, by the time the road was metalled through. The unfortunate back-man had no one further back that he could drag in. > After further discussion the deputation withdrew. In discussing the position afterwards Cr. Gleeson considered that the loan area should be restricted to the natural watershed. Cr. O'Sullivan thought that all should be included. He pointed out that 23 were m favour of the loan and only four objected. The metalled road was beinotaken towards those who objected If they were on a Oft. track now it might not be long before they had a 12ft. road. ! Cr. Bower concurred in this. Cr Kennington thought they should see that a majority did not inflict an injustice on the minorit}'. Cr. O'Sullivan moved that the council take the necessary steps to raise a loan ot £IOOO, in accordance with the settlers' agreement. Cr. Bower seconded this pro forma C ]'- Sander . moved as an amendment that the sections of the objectors be deleted from the loan area, as the area was too large for the amount of loan it was proposed to raise. Cr. Gleeson seconded this. Cr Kennington pointed out that the settlers who objected were cut off from the rest of the district by an almost impassable ridge. It was debatable whether their outlet would be Uruti, or m the. Okoke Road to Urenui, or out to the East Road railway. Cr. Hicks said that there was no doubt the whole of their produce would have to come this way. Cr. O'Sullivan considered that it would retard the .progress of the district if the loan was not carried. The amendment was lost on a division only the mover, seconder, and Cr. Kennington voting in its favor. The motion was carried with the same trio voting against it. Cr. O'Sullivan said that the two Xo-a-timaru members voted against it because the objectors were in the N<mtimaru riding. Cr. Kennington strongly objected to such a statement, whilst Cr. Sander simply ignored it as unworthy of reply Messrs Bone and Miller then notified the council thai they were going to earry the matter before a magistrate