NEW CITY LOAN.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1790, 1 July 1913, Page 4

NEW CITY LOAN.

TO BE RAISED NEXT YEAR, FOR NECESSARY WORKS. "There lias got lo bo a loan raised next' year," said his Worship (ho Mayor (Mr. J. ]'. Luke) to a Dominion reporter yesterday, "for certain works Unit are considered advisable or necessary. I mil at present having a schedule of such wor'rs prepared, with the estimated cost of (lis same. This will be ready at an early auto, when it can be thoroughly discussed, with a view to preparations beins made to rniso the amount required early next year." ' Have" you any idea what tho total amount of the loan will be? "No; I cannot say anything about that at present. I think it is preferable to raise «■ loan rather than to get . a littlo more money 111 by squeezing tho public through tho rates. You might get a coup)o of thousand pounds (.£2000) to do some littlo work, but by expending a similar amo.unt in. interest wo will bo afolo to get many necessary works of a pressing character done." What would you include among tho necessary works? Tho Constable Street-Kilbirnio tramway connection for one-Hhat is a work which, I thmk, most people would now consider necessary. Then there is (ho Wadestown track extension from tho Charlotte Strect-Lambton Quay junction to Featherston Street via Bunny Street, By this means Wadestown ears will bo brought into touch with tho General Post Office, and later with tho new central railway station to bo built in Bunny Street. Another > work that is strongly urged by the city engineer is tho replanning of tho corporation yards at Clyde Quay, -now anything but a credit to the city. Inquiry is at present beintr made as to tho conditions under which tho work done there is carried out. Mr. Morton is of opinion that something should bo done to improvo tlio exterior appoaranco of tho yards, seeing that tho long corrugated iron fence apd sheds occupy a considerable frontage at tho cntranco to tho most popular promenade in Wellington. Ho would liko to sec tho council erect a brick wall along tho frontago with recessed panels, where shrubs or' climbing plants might bo planted, thus combining tho aesthetic with (ho practical. _ Still another necessary work is tho provision of extra office accommodation in connection with the Town nail. It has already been suggested that extra rooms could bo provided by an extension of tho Town Hall building over the stage entnoaico to tho big Town Hall on tho western sido of the building." During tho eourso of his remarks Mr. liuko laid down a new principlo in regard to tho city's finances. "In the past it has been a common practice to cliargo certain, new works to the ordinary revenuo account, when they should bo paid for ont of loan moneys—that is why we have been pinched at times for ordinary maintenance charges. After, this year loans will bo made absolutely necessary whero now works altogether are oonconicd, in order that tho rate money may Ijo available for works in connection with tho maintenance of tho city."