THE MOA MERGER.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1915, Page 2

THE MOA MERGER.

A QUESTION OF MACHINERY,

The question of merging the Moa Road District into the Taranaki County was again touched on at the County Council meeting yesterday, when a resolution was read from the Kaimata Branch of the Farmers' Union, stating that the brandi was in favor of the Moa Riding merging with the Taranaki County, providing that the Taranaki County Council would undertake to provide and retain in the Moa Riding a suitable roadmaking plant. Cr. J. Andrews did not think the Council could give such a guarantee. Cr. C. Andrews said that the Moa Riding would have its turn with the plant the same as the other ridings had. If the present plant was not sufficient the Council would have to get additional plant. Cr. Connett affirmed that there could be no preferential treatment to any riding. Cr. Bcnnie considered that the Moa District, if it wished to merge, should do so on the same terms ns other road districts had. If they did not think they would be better off, they should not join the Council.

Cr. Morton did not think that the Council could give any guarantee as asked, but he pointed out that in the event of the Moa District merging, one plant would be inadequate to deal with ■the whole work of the County, and it would be necessary to secure additional plant. In that event, he considered that one plant could be kept in and about the Moa Riding, not to work in the Moa Riding only, but also in the Mangorei and Waitara Ridingß. The other plant could bo kept at the other end of the County. This would mean a considerable saving in the cost of transporting plant from one end of the district to the other. -He moved that the Kaimata Branch be informed that in the event of the Moa District merging, a separate crushing and rolling plant would of necessity be kept by the Council in the. Moa and adjoining Ridings. To Cr. Simpson: That would mean an additional crusher to the present plant.

The chairman seconded the motion. Cr. Connett favored the resolution. He considered that while encouraging other districts to merge, they should make it clear that they would have equal treatment with the other ridings now in. He understood that Ihey did not want more than was fair, and were prepared to meet the Council in that Spirit. Cr. Lawrence pointed out that flic Moa Ro,ad Board had gone in for the purchase of a roller and crusher. If the district wished to merge the Council could take it over. Cr. Morton: It would be an asset to the district, and would have to he taken over.

The chairman considered that it would be a mistake for the Kaimata people to ask the Council to keep the plant solely in the Moa Riding, as there would not be sufficient work to keep its fully employed. They could, he added, find sufficient work, provided they had sufficient money. He. pointed out that the Mo* Road Board used a little over 200T1 yards of metal per year on their 150 miles of road, and this was equal to a little over a month's crushing. Cr. Connett thought that it would be unreasonable to expect that the plant should be kept idle in one riding, while it was not in use, when there was work needed in adjoining ridings. The resolution was carried.