EGMONT COUNTY LOAN.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 August 1919, Page 5

EGMONT COUNTY LOAN.

PROGRESSIVE ROADING POLICY. The Egmont County Council has for soi)ie time past been moving in the direction of submitting comprehensive proposals to the ratepayers in connection with a scheme for raising a' igau for a progressive scheme of road construction. At yesterday's meeting the matter advanced a stage further, when the matter was opened up by the chairman, who stated that he considered the loan proposals should now bo prepared for submission to the ratepayers. In reply to Cr. Coffin, the engineer stated that new plant was included in tho loan proposals. Tins plant comprised motor lorries, also a machine for lifting stone from the beach. This would enable cheaper work to be done llian under the present system. The proposals included 3GSO chains of tar sealing or tar grouting at JEISMO; total £02,503; plant £7215; contingencies £3503: total £73,578.

CY. Young said that it Would be advitable to go in for a loan large enough to do all the work. The money need i>ot be lifted il' not wanted, lie considered the by-ronds should be included. The chairman stated that some of the by-roads, such as Warea and Ktihui, were proposing to go in for loans themselves. Cr. favored including tHe Ihaia Road. He considered it was entitled to be included as much as Skeet Road. If the by-roads were not included it would operate against the loan, as if the people felt they were being taxed twice they would not vote for the loan. Tho chairman said that once the main road was tarred the people of the byroads would willingly come in. Moreover, unless the plant was trebled they could not do the main roads under three years,

Cr. O'Brien said that if the by-toads were not included he would canvass the district for a fortnight in opposition to the loan.

The chairman said this would take a loan of £150,000, which the ratepayers would not sanction.

Cr- O'Brien said it was unfair to the by-roads to be taxed for tarring the main roads.

The chairman: "Every taxation is unfair." He suggested that a meeting should be held at Opunake and Rahotu to explain the loan proposals. He favored a loan of £BO,OOO.

It was finally decided to hold 'meet ings at Opunake and Rahotu.

Cr. Young considered that people who would oppose tho laying down of tarred roads were not progressive. They hud passed the days for continual patching. If they had struck a higher rate and gone in for a progressive policy earlier their overdraft would not have been so largo and the money paid in interest would haye gone on tho roads, Cr. O'Brien: If the poll is carried you should «o in for toll-gates. The chairmnn said that he certainly intended to go in for toll-gates. With him, tar and toll went together. It was decided to take steps to advertise the loan, and at the next meeting the da to of the poll Would be fixed. Cr. Young considered it would be carried easily.