MERGING MOA ROAD DISTRICT.

Taranaki Daily News, 17 August 1918, Page 7

MERGING MOA ROAD DISTRICT.

■ MEETING AT KAIMATA. Messrs J. B. Connett (chairman) and Arthur Morton (councillor) visited Kaimata on Thursday evening, and addressed a poorly-attended meeting of ratepayers.

Mr. Connett opened the proceedings, and stated they were there to place the matter fairly before the ratepayers and show where a considerable saving could be effected by merging without impairing the efficiency in any way. Mr. Morton addressed the meeting, and adversely criticised the present systm of dual control and dual administration, stating that 14 road boards had already merged into the county, another' was under way, thereby leaving the Moa the only existing road district in the county. ■ The sole reason that prompted these mergings was economy and- efficiency.

SUBSIDY. #

Through! the existence of the Moa Road District, the council was losing annually £7OO. per annum, £lO9 of. which. was directly borne by the Moa hiding. On top of this the management expenses would all praetiealy be saved, which according to the Blue Book for ilfisi6, was nearly £7OO per annum, so that it would be safe to estimate that the merger would effect a saving to the ratepayers of £7OO per annum and not ins the least impair the efficiency. Where mergers had already been effected in the county it was evidently clear that they were well satisfied and would not revert to the road board system. In the district where he was intimately connected with the Soad Board, he was satisfied they had made * wise, step in merging. PROPOSED MOA COUNTY.

We had heard a great deal last Saturday about the proposal to constitute the area of the Moa Road District into a county. This, to his mind, was not in the interest of the ratepayers, ■ as small counties were not conducive togood management or efficiency. From a return compiled from the 1915-16 Blue Book pf 14 counties from different parts of New Zealand with a revenue similar to the Moa County, if constituted, the average cost of management per cent, of rate revenue was 17.5, whereas the Tarana'ki County Council was 10 per cent, and Vhich would he reduced to probably 7 per cent, if the merger was effected. v BRIDGE LOAN. A wrong impression had got abroad that the Moa Riding was the only nuing paying the bridge rate. This was not so : there were two bridge loans, one over the whole county and one over the original Moa Riding that. extended to New Plymouth in those days, a portion of which was now in the Mangonui Riding. The interest on the whole bridge loan was paid out of the general fund, and the interest on the old Moa 1 Ixtiing bridge loan was paid by the Moa and Mangorei Riding, and this was the bridge rate referred to on their demands.

He thought that if the Moa fetrict eventually decided to merge, that they should raise a riding bridge loan, to erect concrete bridge where necessary, and also include sufficient to repay part district bridge loans that existed and which, were found to be a' hardship on section of the ratepayers. He was quite aware that there was a great deal of sentiment to be overcome before the Moa Road District ratepayers would see their, way clear /to merge. It was an old institution and had done good work in the past, and its present and past associates felt that the board should be kept in existence. However, as far as the council were ooncerned, they were there purely from ft business point of |view, as they were of the opinion that the proper thing would be Jfcnerge. They not there, as wssfuggested last Saturday, to force the ratepayers. That could not be done, as the matter was dealt with by petition, and unless the ratepayers; signed the petitions no merger could take effect.

Mr. Corkill, chairman of the Moa Road Board, asked Mr. Morton ola he not state that the council were starving their roads, and how could he reconcile the fact by stating the roads were in good order at the present time. Mr. Morton replied that he was urging an increase of rates, and owing to the abnormal increase of labor and supplies the metal on the roads would correspondingly be reduced. ' Mr. Hunter asked why Mr. Morton opHosed a subsidy to Makara bridge. Mr. Morton replied that he strongly objected to creating a precedent, as they had other road districts which would expect to'be similarly treated, and that the existence of the Moa Road District was already costing the council considerable loss in subsidy. Mr. Reesby, stated that there were a large number of ratepayers on -oad dfstrict boards who never used the main roads from whom rates are collected by the county.

The chairman replied that thero were [a layge number of ratepayers on the [main roads from whom the Road Board collected rates and who never used the Road Board roads.

Mr. Corkill asked why it was that the petition of persons in the Waitara West Road District desiring to merge into the Moa Road District had not been given effect to.

The chairman replied that as the road [district was merging into the 'county they would be better served by the county. Mr. Corkill stated that there seemed, to be a desperate attempt to wipe out the road district and reduce Inglewood, which was a borough, to a country village to tho advantage of New" (Plymouth.

I Mr. Morton pointed out that there was no such' suggestion, as the merger did notj and could nibt, affect the Borough of Inglewood in the least. The merger, if carried out, would not benefit New "Plymouth in any way -whatever. Tt was eventually moved and seconded—'fThat this meeting of ratepayers of the Kaimata district tender a hearty vote of thanks to the speakers for the information given, but that this meeting is not in favor of mferging." Mr. Petersen objected to the twain--tion being put, as the meeting wns fiot a representative one, only 17 ratepayers being present. He instanced the Manganui Rood District, in the Stratford County. The Road Board opposed this tooth and nail in the first instance, but to-day they found they are better served by the Stratford County than ever they were under the Road Board. , I The chairman, put the resolution, which 'was canted, i