THE ROADING PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 300, 12 May 1913, Page 3

THE ROADING PROBLEM.

> A COMPREHENSIVE SCIIEUK. . j DISCUSSED BY THE EGMONT , I COUNTY COUNCIL. The cost of the upkeep of roads, and particularly of the main South Road, in order to cope with the increasing traffic, has lately been the subject of much thought by those interested, and it is interesting to know that the Egmont County Council is making a comprehensive attempt to grapple with the problem by submitting a scheme to its ratepayers for providing a roadway metalled IS feet wide and 12 inches deep throughout the whole County. This scheme will be submitted to ratepayers for their consideration very shortly. The matter was broached at the previous meeting of the Council, when it was decided to take a poll of ratepayers for the purpose of raising a loan. The Engineer was instructed to' prepare estimates of the cost of widening the road as suggested in the various ridings, and at Friday's meeting the Engineer submitted the estimates as follows: Oeo Southern, (Main South Road, Oeo, Watino, Skeet, Patiki, and Nopera Roads) £15,1(50; Oeo Northern, (Eltham Road East, Oeo, Watino, Patiki, Te Kiri, Auroa and Stratford Roads) ii 2,- { 035; Opunake, (main road) £2,41)5; Rahotu Southern, (Main South Road and Eltham) £5,850; Rahotu Northern (Main South Road) £9,120, and contingencies £2,370; total, £47,€00. _ Some of the Councillors, particularly in the Oeo, hold very pessimistic views as to the proposals being adopted by I the ratepayers. This led Cr. Maxwell to remark that it was no use Councillors submitting the proposals if they r considered them absolutely <ertain of defeat. Personally in his .iding (Rahotu Northern) he ' thought the scheme would prove a splendid business proposition. They would get a good road 18ft. wide and 12 inches deep for about £9,000, or at an annual expenditure on interest and ■ sinking fund of £470, whereas at prej sent the upkeep of the 12ft. track was I from £2OOO to £3OOO per annum. All traffic must go over the same track on the present narrow road, and it was simply squandering money to endeavour to keep it decently. It would certainly pay from a business point of view to borrow the money. In reply to a query by Cr. Willcox, the Engineer stated that for the first few years after the road was made as suggested, the fifteen miles in the Rahotu northern riding could be maintained for £l5O per annum. Cr, Campbell thought that the road proposals would defeat the bridge and plant proposals. Other Councillors Tidiculed this, and it was pointed out that the road scheme would be submitted to each particular district, and that one could reject it and the other carry it. Each district would only be liable for its own share of the road loan. , . It was resolved that the currency of ! the machinery loan should be 20 years, and that the road and bridge loan ' should be for the longest term prccurable. | ..,,, ' It is understood ' that the Rahotu members will address meetings of ratepayers on the subject prior to the poll being taken. . '