MOA ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 November 1919, Page 2

MOA ROAD BOARD.

MONTHLY, MEETLNG. The ordinary meeting of the Moa Road Board Was held on Saturday, when there were present Messrs. A. Corkill (chairman), T. S. Bowler, A. Crowling, J. Hunter, J. H. Lyon, D. Todd, R. Stewart, and J. Hair. RICHMOND ROAD. Mr. ATilmr Gilbert wrote drawing attention to the had state of iho Richmond Road, which was not passable without risk of accident. The chairman stated that it was impossible to do anything to the road without a loan. More than half tho settlers were prepared to go in for a loan, and would have done bo two years ago,- but, unfortunately, there were two or three sett'ers who did not believe in progress, and they wero in a position to ulocl! the other settlers. > Mr. Stewart sujfested that tbe (fader should he sent up . Mr. lyo,' considered tho road was it tJio place, ant Uwuld have been iihced in the valley. Hrwtver, some present relief should be given. He found that cream was nJng taken three or four miles to .Maltara h\ad, and thus Lsgkwood was belnc injured owing to tho bad access. Mr. Hunter pointed out that the front settlers had gone in for a loan years ago, ajid tbe road had- been worn out, back settlers using the road who had not contributed to it. ' On the motion of Messrs. Bowler and Stewart, , it. was resolved that a meeting of the settlers bo called, and that tho chairman, Messrs. J. H. Lyon and D. Todd meet the settlers and explain the position. Mr. Lyon contended that they must have good by-roads as feeders. The. chairman pointed out that when tho county was in operation, , a loan would be gone 'i for to improve the main roads, and more o;' tho general rate would be available for tho ra|)Ui roads. 3lr. Bowler said that he was surprised to find many of tho roads In bad condition. He was convinced that if they had good roads they would get four times the milk supplied to their creameries. The chairman said that the people had now awakened to the fact that they must go in for loans if they wanted better roads, and In tho last few months had made more of a move than had been the case for the past few years. They now had seven applications for loans. By obtaining iaboruand machinery tho board could do its part, and, in a few years, tho district would be in line with the most progressive districts. Mr. Heuwood also waited on tbe Board in connection with the same road. Messrs. Hunter and Bowler suggested that they should ask the TaranaM County Council for a contribution from the rates. ' Mr. Bowler said that tho County collected l%d from, all over the district foir expenditure x oft tho main roads, whereas the Road Board'collected Id for expenditure on tho by-roads. Tho chairman said that with the exception of the Richmond Road there was not an unQietalled road that they could not drive a motor car over at present. He questioned' If It was the fault of bad roads that prevented settlers In all cases from supplying the factories. In heply to Mr. Hunter, tho chairman stated that application had been mado to the Taranakl County Council for a contribution from the rates on the portion of the road outside the Board's area on several occasions without result. personally, ho was certain tho roads were better to-day than ever they had been. They had good management and good supervision, encouraged free labor, and were getting it on many roads. It was only due to the staff to make this explanation. Ho added that tho Board would effect repairs to the worst places. KOHETE BRIDGE. Mr. Geo. Morton waited on tho Board in connection with the state of a bridge on tho Kohete Road. This bridge, he considered, might last a week longer, as it was on the point of collapsing. He pointed out that it had been decided some time ; ago to replacq, the bridge, by pipes, and hi asked for am assurance that tho work would be done at once. The overseer stated that the difficulty was to obtain teams. Settlers were asking 10s per day. Mr. Cowling said that settlors should work more with the Board. They asked tho Board to do too much. The chairman polntod out that settlers were asking £1 per day for a dray, and a man, and tbo Board had never paid moro than 18s. Mr. Ceo. Morton said that ho would pay the 23 per day difference himself, on ono fear. '■ The chairman said the Board would do Its best In the matter. It was also resolved to apply to the Taranakl County Council for a contribution from the rates. ' OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer (Mr. R. C. Gray), reported (hat the roads were in very fair order with tho exception of the metal giving away, owing to the dry weather. This would be attended to as soon as he could get labor, which at, present was scarce. To take advantage of tho ffno weather, ha had started men on the Everett Road at Hs and 15s a day. The permanent surfacemen had no desire to remain at 12s, and had suggested to him to continue at 15s per day casual. Single horses and dray at Cs per day were not to bo found, so ho went to 10s per day. There wero at present four drays and nine men working the Everett Road formation. The plant had been overhauled and painted and was ready for work. Usual repairs had been carried out on tho Rimutauteka, Manga - tea, Dudley West Roads, drains had beon cleaned in. the Norfolk east, and 9 12-in. pipes had hcen set In on the Lincoln Road. On the Bristol Road 12-Inch pipes had been set In and earthwork had been remetalled. On the Everett Road formation, 21 12-inch and 10 24-inch pipes had beeu set in. During September and October 23 pipes had been manufactured; 44 used for the Board's work, and 58 sold. It would bo necessary ti advance the present prices of pipes owing to the rise in the price of labor, and the cartage of material, etc. THE LABOR QUESTION. The chairman stated that he had given authority to employ tha 'men up to. the present meeting on tho Everett Road. The chairman's action was confirmed. ' Mr. Cowling stated that farmers in his district wero paying Ks per day. Tho chairman stated that they wero paying wages In confirmlty with the rate fired by the Counties' Conference at Eltham, and he. would not care to make any alteration without consulting the conference, though it was understood that the conference would alter the wages as occasion demanded. Mr. J. H. Lyon considered that with their Inception as a county they should consider the question of utilising some of their odd ploces of land to build houses for their workmen whore they could keep a cow or two. This, of course, would, do away with tho grazing system. He strongly ' favored making tho men permanent and satisfied. This would do a good deal to solve the labor bugbear, and also the cost of living problem. Members considered tho idea worth considering. On the motion of Messrs. Todd and Bowler, It was resolved that the overseer bo instructed to give each meeting a forecast of tho following month's work. It was resolved to call applications for six permanent men at 12s per day, wot and dry; also, to ask tho secretary of tho Eltham Counties' Conference to call a conference on tho question of wages. GRANTS. Hon. J. B. Hine, Minister of Internal Affairs, notified Hint tho Minister of Public Works had stated that consideration. would be given to the placing on this yoar's estimates of a sum of £SOO subsidy towards tho cost of forming and metalling Motukawa Road. Later ,the chairman received a telegram from the Hon. J. B. Hine, stating that £250 on account of £SOO subsidy would appear In tile Supplementary Estimates. The chairman referred to the fact that the Board had recetvod from tho Government £3500 In grants, practically all that they had asked for. GENERAL. 1 Moratti asked permission to shift a shed he had purchased by the roadside at the Ratapiko factory.—-Lett in the hands of Mr. Hair. Tiie engineer was instructed to prepare plans, etc, of tho work on the Toi Tol Road. Mr. J. H. Lyon reported that Messrs. Mackinder and Hall had repaired the Makara bridge, and refused to accept payment 'for the work. —It was resolved to accord them, a vote of thanks. It was resolved to obtain a table plan of the new county. Tho chairman, Messrs. Bowler and Lyon wero appointed a. committee to arrange for a traction engine. Accounts amounting to £2Bl 3s 6d were passed for payment.