ROAD WORKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 November 1938, Page 5

ROAD WORKS

IMPROVEMENT OF STRONVAR HIGHWAY

PAYMENT FROM COUNTY FUNDS OPPOSED COUNCILLOR MAKES VIGOROUS PROTEST The vexed question of meeting the cost of certain road works out of county or riding funds was raised at yesterday’s meeting of the Masterton County Council when Councillor W. I. Armstrong proposed that the cost of road improvement work at ten miles on the Masterton-Stronvar main highway should be met out of county funds. The proposal raised a vigorous protest from Councillor J. W. Colquhoun, who stated that there was never. any intention, when the council laid down its policy, that work of this nature should jump ahead some miles of tar sealing proposals. When the council decided to meet the cost of major deviations out of county funds it was the intention, he asserted, that this would apply only to cases where the road was being prepared for immediate tar sealing. He did not regard the proposed work on the Stronvar Highway! as a major deviation. Councillor W. I. Armstrong, who advocated the work as one wanting to be done, as the length of road was a dangerous one, said the plans and specifications had been approved by the Government.

, The County Clerk, Mr J. C. D. Mackley, pointed out that in the first place the proposed work was brought before the council prior to the resolution having been passed relating to meeting the costs of major deviations. Following the passing of that resolution the matter was held over for a time, but in the interim the plans and specifications had been approved by the Main Highways Board. The original intention was to do the work out of riding funds, but the Public Works Department agreed to the proposal only on condition that a more extensive improvement should be carried out.

The proposal work raised a rather contentious point of policy concerning the way in which the costs of road works were met, Councillor Colquhoun' maintaining that the council had departed from - the intention of its resolution when the Clerk had stated that the cost of certain portions of road improvement work on the Taueru Highway had been met out of the £2,500 set aside for tar-sealing or major deviation works.

Mr Mackley pointed out that it was almost impossible to dissect particular costs. The method of procedure in road construction was altogether differene from what it was a year or two ago, and a parallel could not be drawn. Councillor Colquhoun declared emphatically that he would not support any such proposal, as the £2500 had been set aside for the special purpose of tar sealing. He was surprised at the attitude that had been taken up—to jump miles ahead of tar-sealing proposals, and to do road improvement work out of money set aside for a special purpose. Other councillors, Councillor H. H. Mawley, especially, more or less agreed with the Councillor Colquhoun’s contention. Councillor Mawley said he would never stand for a proposal of the kind suggested. The chairman, Mr R. E. Gordon Lee, said he could not accept any motion until the council had seen the plans of the work. It was suggested that Councillor Armstrong might be able to finance the job in some other way. “I don’t see,” said Councillor Armstrong, “why I should pay for a major deviation like this and pay towards majoi' deviations in other parts of the county.” Councillor Mawley observed that he knew what was wrong, but he was not saying anything. Councillor Colquhoun: “I know, it is the notice of motion. I can see it now. If I had known that it would be taken advantage of in this way I would not have moved it.”