BOROUGH SANITATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 109, 17 May 1901, Page 3

BOROUGH SANITATION.

INCREASED RATE NECESSARY

DISCUSSION IN COUNCIL.

a general discussion on the estimates at the Council on Tuesday night, the question of the increased rate came in for some consideration. Cr Hepburn, supported by the Mayor, had been pointing out that the new Councillors were reckoning on doing more than seemed possible, even with the increased rate of threepence. Cr AVhiuray looked at the matter from a rather different stand point. He did not anticipate that the increased rate would be otherwise than temporary. It was, he considered, better to show a little determination now and have things done pro- I perly, so that the town could reap the I benefit iu due course. What was being done now ought to have been done long ago, and they would now have been feeling the benefit of it. Cr Hepburn said it would not be so bad if they could depend on the proposed in-

crease being sufficient, but if they were

going in for an extended plant extra shed and stabling accommodation would have to bo provided, and that was not included in the estimates. Cr Bright said that they were under-

laking a present expense that in the

future better work might be done at a reduced annual cost. In one item, a thousand yards of metal, X3OO would be saved. The public feeling was that things must be done in the best possible way, and his experience was that the best way was in the long run always the cheapest.

Cr Jones said that he was not in favor of increasing the rate. He believed that if they set about it in an economical way the improvements necessary, especially in regard to sanitation, could be done without any increase of the rates. Such things as the broom and scraper should be obtained at once, but the road machinery could wait for a while.

Mr Lysnar : No, it cannot ; it has already waited too long. Cr Jones : Well, if it cannot wait wo ought to he able to livo within our means. Wo are saving threepence on the rate of last year, yet you want to put on. another threepence, making it really an increase of sixpence, without going into the subject of increase of valuations. Some Councillors seem to be too impatient. Cr. Miller : Wo ought to be, but cannot.

Cr Jones: I expect we shall shortly have before us a scheme for a .watersupply and drainage, and my desire is to see something ' ofl'eetivo done in the matter. But if we put on a 2s rate now, what is left for water and drainage ? If you saddle people with a five shilling rate, then you will find that they will not pay it. We ought to look ahead a bit, and sec what we have got to face. The sanitary matter must bo attended to, but with regard to the other matter we should proceed carefully, doing a little this year and completing it the next. If it were our own business we were dealing with we would just get what was actually necessary, and obtain the rest as we could afford it. It is unreasonable to jump the rate up at once.

Cr Lysnar: This cheeseparing policylias been going on too long. I do not agree with my friend, Cr Jones, that the ratepayers will cavil at this extra rate when you consider what benefits are being got for it. We tried to do without it, but we find that we must have it or cut these tilings down. What would have to be cut down? It would have to be eithor the provision for sanitation or the road machinery. It is admitted by all that both are beneficial. The road machinery fs for tho purpose of saving money. You will notice that the traction engine and plant will require a deposit of X 250, and tho broom and scraper will cost XIO0 — that is X 350 we would have to pay right off.

Cr Whinray : We would save it in the first year. Cr Lysnar : There is no question about

Or Kennedy : We will save XBOO on the metal by that expenditure. Cr Whim-ay : And do the work more efficiently. Cr Lysnar : Yes, aud it would be done to bettor advantage. Tho sanitary expenditure will entail X2OO a year. Somebody said that it would cost more. AVe went into the question, and found that it works out to X 3 a week, just over Xl5O ; allowing a pound a week extra for a man on permanently, and the sum is X 4 a week. I say that the public will at‘ once realise that it is a prudent step for us to take, tho rate being for sanitary purposes pure and simple. As for the machinery, it is a big step to take, and should have been taken long ago. AVe have another thing to fall back on, that is the item of X3OO for water and drainage—that is ail item for us to come aud go on. If we take an extreme view Continued on fourth page.