NEW COUNTY’S TASKS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 May 1922, Page 8

NEW COUNTY’S TASKS.

WORK OF INGLEWOOD COUNCIL. IMPROVING THE ROADS. An interesting survey of wort in the Inglewood County during the past year was given by the chairman of the council (Mr. A. Corkill) at the annual meeting yesterday. Mr. Corkill reported: Our main endeavour has been to try and make up the leeway in the main road. The main road between Waipuku and the Waiwakaiho River, which carries the heaviest of our traffic, as well as practically the whole of the through traffic from outside our boundaries to New Plymouth, is in better order than it has been for very many years. Over two miles of this road has been widened from nine to 16 feet, recoated, and permanently laid down, whilst a portion has also been dressed with bitumen, and the balance will be dressed when the remainder of the bitumen now on order comes to hand. The balance of this road has been scorified and strengthened to its original width, and should last for a year or two. The permanent work this year has been done out of revenue, but owing to the comparatively small sum available each year, it would be preferable to go in for a loan and complete the work in a reasonable time.

With the main roads laid permanently out of loan money, even after providing for interest charges, there would be more of the general rate available for expenditure on the side roads, which I am freely prepared to admit have not had ail the attention that they needed. Under the circumstances that has beteh ’ unavoidable, as most of the available money has had to be expended in putting tbe main road into repair. The Act compels us to maintain the main arterial road, even to the extent of levying the full rate of 6d in the £ unimproved value, and at present we are striking only 5d on the 1912 valuation. This is not a high rate compared with some other local bodies. However, in the future ratepayers on the side roads can look forward to better conditions.

I am also convinced that the council is wise in adopting bitumen dressing for its roads instead of tar. This is a matter that gave members considerable thought before a final decision was reached. There is no doubt that Taranaki possesses some very fine tar-sealed roads, but local bodies are beginning to realise that the continual dressing with tar is too costly, and are looking for some more economical method.

Considerable work has bene put in hand during the year, but owing to the exceptionally wet season not as much progress has been made as I would have liked. Ten contracts for-formation -and metalling, amounting to over £16,000, arc in hand, and most of them are nearing completion. The Government is contributing over £6OOO towards the works, and the balance is being raised by the settlers in the form of loans. The whole of this available loan money has been given to settlers bn the unmetalled roads, and proposals are in hand for loans for a further £5OOO. These will have to wait until next year, unless the Government in the meantime increase the limit.

Several bridges on the main road are dangerous for heavy traffic, and to renew these a loan will have to be raised as soon as the Government can provide the money. During the year about £4OOO has been expended in the purchase of new plant and material. I would like to point out that though the overdraft appears large, if we were able to set against this the amount of outstanding rates and the money expended in plant and material, the overdraft would have stood at £l2OO on March 31 lasta very satisfactory position indeed. In conclusion, I would again state that I have always been actuated by an honest desire to obtain for ratepayers full value for the money entrusted to the council for expenditure. This is more than ever necessary to-day when ratepayers have to economise in every way possible and local bodies would be failing in their duty if they did not do likewise. Moreover, the recent Local Bodies Finance, Bill will compel the council to live within its income, and incidentally the council will be compelled to take steps to collect its rates at an earlier date.

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES LIST OF REQUIREMENTS. At a special meeting of the Inglewood County Council, yesterday, the following schedule of Government subsidies for county works to be applied for were drawn up, the works being placed in the order of their urgency:— Kohete Road, £500; Motukawa, £458; Mana Road, £1000; Ratapiko Road, £500; Autawa and Pita Roads, £2115; Mangaone, £200; Kaimata South, £300; Toi Toi, £500; Norfolk Road West, £900; Richmond Road, £1000; Mountain Road, £300; Mangaorakau Bridge, £275; Bedford Road Bridge, £3OO (straight-out grant) ; Bristol Road, £lso'; Otaroa Road, £1500; King Road, £1000; Kaipi Road, £600; Hursthouse Road, £200; Bedford Bridge, south of Norfolk Road, £150; York Road, £500; Junction Road, east of Inglewood, £1000; Tariki Road, £500; Derby Road bridge boundary (jointly with Stratford County), £312; Derby Road bridge south of Surrey Road, £l5O.