NOT FAVOURED

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 117, 14 November 1939, Page 7

NOT FAVOURED

rest.room loan

PETONE PROPOSAL

ECONOMY URGED

A communication from the Local Government Loans Board concerning the Petohe Borough Council's application for a loan of £500Q for a ladies' rest room, evoked much discussion at last night's meeting of' the Petone Borough Council.

... The board advised that the application for sanction to raise a loan of £5000 in respect to the rest room and municipal buildings extension was:sub.mitted tp;.a meeting of the ; board on November 3- The matter was referred jback; for further consideration as to the advisability ot proceeding with the .proposal at the.present time.-

; The ~]bqard; expressed the opinion that the present time vwas; not opportune to proceed with new works of the nature of the proposals, and suggested that in view of the heed for national economy and the conservation of existing stocks of bnilding material, etc., the proposal should be held over until conditions improved.

"If the council had not thought the work necessary,l it would not have approached the Loans Board in the first place," said the Mayor (Mr. G. London). "Many works are going on throughout the Dominion,' and the Petone request should have been placed^, on at least an equal, footing with other parts of New Zealand. It is all very disappointing." . .

CHANGE OF HEART?

Councillor H. Green said that the statement seemed to him a most curious change of heart on the part of the Government. "From a policy of spending, iriiad swung to a policy of extreme economy; The reason was that i the coffers were empty. The council had been trying for some time to get a rest room, for the women of the district, Councillor Green added, and he thought that no one could deny the necessity-of such a building.

"The Government has authorised the expenditure of £70,000 to £80,000 for the building of a new commercial radio station in -Auckland,". he continued. "Why should they do this? There are too many radio stations today already, in my opinion. I move that the board should be asked to review the matter.^ a ,■.•..■.•■:■

Councillor" J. Cumming seconded the motion, "but stated that Councillor Green was out of order in referring to! Government. policy. , The policy of j the Government did riotcome into the ■ matter-at all: The council was interested in obtaining the loan, and was not concerned, with radio stations. If the council had; applied some time ago, if '^grijd^jhaye found no difficulty in " obtaming -the board's .sanction. .The Loans, Board was entirely independent • of tKe^ Government. "The Government coffers are certainly not empty," he c&ncluded. "There was never so. rptnucti? money in New Zealand before. "T suggest that as well as advising the board, we ,should approach, the T Hon. W. Nash jitr."the subjects - He-fully realises the necessity of pur proposals," LOCAL KNOWLEDGE. Councillor A. M. Macfarlane said ' that he agreed with Councillor Green. He asked what •>was the constitution of • ihe^ljocajr;;Government Loans Board. ; This^ was apparently an expression of . opinion, and if the board had any local C knowledge ■it would not have " made such a statement. -• Councillor E. N. Campbell also,ex^ :■ pressed disapproval of the decision. • \ A request for discussion in com- ' mittee^was. made by Councillor J. R. ':', GayijpV?" -He,said that he,..would like . to l3|oW whether the Lpaiis Board's • remarks-were, an expression of Gov- • .'1 ernment.opinionj,..., Personally, he did • nof'think so. :; ":',■ Mr.Londpii,'' explMned that the Loans ' Bpa^dvwas an expirb committee set up; by MeVGovernment to which all public >■'■> loans;"applications wfjre referred. ' The board va^tec^-as ecpripmic adviser to ■ Ipcat'b6dies,i:and in'this case had given • its/p'pitiior''::"*"inie:;rpp:inion was not that ;' of;-"th^vGb^en^"en't;;. s- It was for the !! > council?; ttt^r.eply' that the work was •■ ve;ryvpcess^^.,^v;^:,./, . :. . Coi^iH^^;rfie^ifcns f was of the, .;.. opii^i^^l^S^ttssib^should. be. ~: in,;'open|coitncil;?S"':,"•>,'•!..■•..■: .- ■■"■•'■•■■ "' "■■ T^^^^^'istronglyprptest," used- : by-^otner councillor, A wai objected to "'■ "'by "-Councillor; J. Huggan, who sug•4 ges^ffiat'to:council;should approach '•^ the.-board. :m6re'Circ'u|rispectly. He \(«i^i^^^a^&-'the:? suggestion that • ]Vtt:^sit^hpuid be consulted. ' r. Il?^s*.rM^e4x^B^ imously to ask the%oans?Board to review the matter.