MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 74, 17 August 1914, Page 7

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. I The ordinary monthly meeting of the hloa Road Board was held at fnglcwood 'on Saturday. Present: Messrs 11. ; Trimble (chairman). A. E. Lawrence, -I. j Williams, A. Smith, M. Ilopson, It. ; Beauchamp. G. Capper, W. G. Shoemark and G. A. Bridgeman. FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Foreman Knoll'lock reported that'he had been employed at various repair work on the Wortley, Richmond and Bristol roads. All roads were breaking up owing to the wet weather. Foreman Bennett ihad been engaged at maintenance work on the Kaimata South, Raiapiko, Kaimata North and Bristol roads. He recommended that the contractor for the Kaimata North metal contract should he urged to push on with this contract, as the metal was badly required. j Foreman A. Wilmshurst had been busy I on maintenance work on various roads. | Owing to the bad weather causing the I roads to break up, the shingle-napping !j had been stopped. Ten tliirty-inc.li l-pipes had been delivered on the Egmont I South road. Cement was required at the depot for pipe-making. Foreman V. Ludemann reported that the Durham East. Norfolk East and Rugby roads required attention. It was resolved to notify the contractor on the Kaimata road that the contract must be completed within a fortnight. ROAD MAINTENANCE. The question of upkeep of roads came up for discussion, Mr. Smith remarking that though the. initial cost of coating with soltar was heavy, there was no doubt that it would pay in : ; he long run. Mr. Hopson: It is too costly. The chairman considered that it would have to be faced sooner or later, if the ratepayers wanted metalled roads. Mr. Beauchamp thought that some better system should be adopted for repairing roads than was in vogue at present. It was stated that soltar had not been tried on old roads, but only on new work. The matter will be discussed with the new foreman. OVERSEER AND SURFACEMAN. Seven applications were, received for each of the positions as working overseer and overseer. —Held over for a special meeting next Saturday. CONTRIBUTING TO THE WAR FUND. Mr. R. Beauchamp brought up the question of contributing to the war fund. The Government, he said, had passed' a Validating Act to enable local bodies to do so, and he moved that the Board contribute £2O to assist the. war fund. —This was seconded by' Mr. Smith. Mr Capper considered that the mmtier should be left in abeyance. The Board were only trustees of the ratepayers, and needed all the money to maintain {lnroads in good order, so that they could be speedily travelled on, if it were necessary to defend their hearths and homes'. He moved accordingly.—This was seconded bv Mr. Williams.

The chairman said that 'he hoped the resolution would not pass. Individual members could give what they liked, but the primary duty of the Board wis to maintain the roads with the rates. They had, lie thought, no right to divert any part of their revenue to the war fund, unless it was absolutely necessary to defend the shores of this conntry'. There was no necessity for this at present, and he hoper" that ther*; never would be. It more funds were required, it was the duty of the general Government to levy taxes in the .proper wayj so that everyone would belli' the burden.

Mr. Beauchauip objected to the question of individual contribution being introduced. He had given individually, but he wanted them to give as a Board. This would be an example to others. He mentioned that if they, waited until it was necessary to defend their shores, perhaiw it would be too late. .Mr. liopson was waiting- to see what the County Council was going to do. He thought that the members of that body would subscribe an amount among themselves, and. if so, the Road Board could do the .sa,me. He was certain that the, ratepayers would object to money being voted by the Board for the purpose. Mr. Smith did not think that the ratepayers would kick over the traces on the grounds of expenditure. If they did. be was prepared to pay the whole amount himself. The. chairman: Then wb.< not do so? The amendment was curried, only the mover and the seconder of the. motion voting against it. Accounts amounting tc £l7.'! Los Id were passed for payment.