BOROUGH MATTERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4823, 17 April 1925, Page 3

BOROUGH MATTERS.

STATEMENT BY THE MAYOR.

* ACTIVITES OF OUTGOING COUNCIL RECORD PROGRESS MADE.

With the conclusion pl the ordinary business at last night's meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) gave the following resume of municipal activities during the Last. two years

“rFom month to month, in the discharge of its responsibilities, the Council is dealing with mapy things in detail in their various phases, often pressed by urgent influences and moved by dire necessity. When so engaged it in never easy to keep steadfastly in view definite purpose, or a general scheme; added to which there is the fact that we. know there is much which ratepayers desire should oe done, and comparatively little that can be done with the financial resources of the administration. These factors tend to obscure the true movement. so that it becomes our duty tonight, as I see it, to thoughtfully sum up the work done in the interests of the community, that the ratepayers and. ourselves may be able to judge concerning our stewardship. “Firstly,, let us look at Finance. This is dealt with in detail in this month's Finance Committee's report, which should be read in conjunction herewith ; but it is safe to say that the sound financial position of the borough has been fully maintained, each separate account on examination showing to be in a healthy condition, and safely balanced.

“There is one unsatisfactory feature, and that, the large amount of outstanding rates. This hampers the work, and is grossly unfair to those ratepayers./Who do meet their liabilities. We have -unquestionably experienced hard times financially, but the present position must not be allowed to continue.

••On the administration side there ha; been only a • relatively email increase in expense, in spite- of the fact that the work has enormously increased, as the facts will later show. "In loan finance a new system has been largely used, nuuncly, raising the money on the security of hypothecated debentures. The advantage of this is fouiid in the fact that interest only accrues from day to day on the money actually-, expended. This has resulted in economy so far, and will prove very beneficial in the sewer connections loan, but as far as the seweraga i-ml street improvement Ipan is concerned it will be necessary for tnc incoming Council, if advances cannot be obtained from the State Advances Department, to watch for a favourable opportunity, to float the loan; othervise the advantage gained will be lost

••During the last financial year loan proposals were submitted, to the ratepayers, and the proposals to raise S-2000 for sewer connections and £6OOO for waterworks were carried by subsi antial majorities. These are both progressive steps, and all arrangements are complete for obtaining tne lirst-mentioned loan, and also £2OOO on the latter. All that is required is the necessary Ordens-in-Council, which are, we are informed, all in order and awaiting execution. “The problems of public works during the past two years have been difuiculties peculiar to a young local body. The only plant and tools possessed by the borough two years ago were an old small grader, wheelbar- ‘ rows, picks and shovels, and pipescrewing gear. And there was no yard of its own or sheds. •During the two years Hie amount ' spent on public works out of the General Account has been £4256 2s 6d. Out of this we have provided a work yard, shed, stables, feedroom, public convenience, foreman’s office and toolj oom, bitumen and tar sprayer, plough, drag scoop, wheel scoop, three good horses, .harness, dray, and £560 ’ paid towards the purchase of a steam roller at a total cast of approximately (.inn These are permanent assets provided out of revenue, in additiol to these some works of a permanent nature have been carried out from annual income, namely: Formation and metalling of portion of Raroa Road, reforming and metalling of the Thames Road between Raroa Road :lt nd. racecourse eritrance, formation of ,s>de road, full width, from racecourse to the borough boundary, filling in Russell Street between Willoughby • ;and Wood’ streets; several culverts have also been permanently laid. ~ jk “Maintenance can be said to have at least been adequately maintained, when it is remembered that Puke Road, half of Station Road, and part of Thames Road—near Aorangi Road and from Station Road to main drain — have been scarified, re-metalled, ami rolled, and 10% chains of Puki .—. Road surfaced. “The new fire station has also been erected out of annual revenue at a zcost of £366. “The old Aorangi Road has been closed and a new road opened up, which is a vrey great benefit and removes a large liability. “Streets have been closed and much work done to secure the complete site for a public hospital. This necessitated special legislation, purvey, etc., but we have reason to hope that the hospital may shortly become an accomplished fact. Survey has been made for the straightening of King Street and opening of same .to Corbett Street. AU that now remains to be done is to await the necessary Or-der-in-Council herewith and the work can be put in hand. -The Ngahina wharf, which is the _y*siibjcct of a special report to-nighr, |) a s been taken over by the Borough Council and arrangements made for its use. The public librarv has been assigned to the Borough Council and y, jj s assets vested in the people of the and it is hoped that this will result in the use thereof for the public good. 11l the domain the bowling 7 green and pavilion have been lighted

with electricity lor night play, with satisfactory results so far. In the office the card system for valuation roll records has been introduced with much benefit, and a system of records adopted which greatly facilitates the work. These things, and numerous small matters which could be mentioned, are permanent improvements provided during the past two years by the latepayers without leaving any burden for posterity to carry. We therefore may claim that, some substantial progress has been made along absolutely sound lines. “The sanitary service has been taken over during the term by the Borough Council, since when there lias been a marked reduction in the number of complaints, and the change has shown a profit to the ratepayers of about £4O.

"In connection with loan matters, £5511 has been raised and expended in the reticulation of a further large area of the borough, thereby greatly increasing the facilities for up-to-date sanitary conveniences, such as can only mean added comfort and security for the public health. The sum of approximately £3OOO has been raised and expended in street formation and storm water drainage, and a 12in storm-water drain has been laid right across the domain. Portions of Russell and Willoughby streets, King Street, and Dulcie Street have been formed for a width of 20ft, metalled and .bituminised; Coronation Road has been formed and metalled to stand heavy traffic, and should be a first-claps road. Bennett Street has been formed for a width of 20ft, and Hill Street from Cullen Street, to Kennedy Street, and part of Flora Street. Taylor'S Avenue is being constructed to completion, including concrete culvert and kerbing; also about threequarters of Moore Road, entirely’ by the Railway Department, without cost to the ratepayers outside engineering fees and a few culverts. The department also paid £213 towards the cost of cutting down the top of Hill Street. “The Domain improvement loan of £looo' has been raised, and the work of improving the playing field area is in hand. One cannot help becoming enthusiastic to visualise the enormous improvement, this' is going to be, and the great advantage it will be to sports bodies generally. "The water service has been extended to the Railway Settlement area.

'•I think it can be safely said that, on the whole, the maintenance done prevents deterioration of facilities previously provided. That some pelmanent assets have been secured out of current rates, and that loan money has been expended in such a, way tnat public assets have been created which will at least last longer than the liabilities will, remain ; also that municipal activities has been carried into new channels. It should be always remembered that every improvement effected makes an addition to the maintenance required; ibid it is necessary to go forward with caution and in strict accordance only with the ability of the ratepayers to pay for such improvements and their maintenance.

■‘These things are the general purpose or scheme to which I made earlier reference, and 1 feel confident that it is sound. “Other matters which Indicate progress during the past two years are the purchase of a railway settlement area of 30 acres and .the erection alread." of 15 houses thereon; the purchase of a large area for a new station yard, and erection of new station buildings ; the purchase of a fine central site for a new post office and the lettine of a contract for approximately £12,000 for a. new building; the erection of a new manual training school; and the isplendid. improvements to the racecourse property. Thus, although we have our disappointments, and though oiir difficulties are very real ones, the summary here given indicates progress and activity, of which we as a town are entitled to be proud. “All these developments have mean: earnest hard work for the administrators and tstaff'to a degree never before experienced in Paeroa. It would have been utterly impossible without the measure of whole-hearted co-operation which has been a feature of the work of the Council assembled to-night for the last time. There is much Work yet to be completed and possibilities quite untouched, and the need is for energetic, unselfish service for the common weal?’ The Mayor also referred to the fact that Crs. Lamb and Bain had decided not to seek re-election. He wished to pay public tribute to the many sterling qualities of the two retiring councillors, and said that in his judgment they had served the ratepayers well. Speaking to Cr. Lamb, the Mayor said that he admired his sound judgment and business ability, and wished to acknowledge his unswerving loyalty to himself (the Mayor) as the chief executive officer. He was genuinely sorry to lose the help and association of Crs. Lamb and Bain.

Continuing, Mr Marshall said that the council was not a one-man job, although much of the work necessai - ily fell on the shoulders of the Mayor, Full credit was due to each councillor for any measure of success that had been achieved, and he wished to expretss his sincere thanks, not only to the retiring councillors, but to all the members for their help and co-opera-tion during the past two years. He wished them good luck during the election, and said that he looked forward with pleasure to sitting with the majority of them round the table again next month. The Deputy-Mayor (Cr. E. Edwards) thanked the Mayor for his complf-' montary remarks, and on behalf of

the councillors extended to His Worship their hearty congratulations on the splendid record of service during his term as Mayor. Since filling the Mayoral chair he had put. hits whole heart and soul into the work of placing the borough on a sound footing, at a considerable sacrifice of time and business interests. His Worship had put up a record for progressive work, and by sheer grit and business acumen had done .his utmost to further the interests of the borough in so far as finances permitted. He had shown himself to be possessed of a broad outlook, and a desire to offer a friendly and helping hand whenever needed.

Cr. Flatt supported Cr. Edwards, and said he believed that the borough was in as sound a position as any borough in New Zealand, and he congratulated His Worship on bringing about the existing satisfactory state of affairs.

Cr. Vuglar also congratulated the Mayor on his splendid term of service. Cr, Brenan offered his congratulation and spoke eulogistically of the Mayor. He said that he hoped the expense of an election would be avoided, and that the present councillors would be re-elected.

Cr. Lamb briefly responded, thanking the Mayor and councillors for their remarks. He said he had spent a very happy time during his term as councillor, and was gratified to learn that any services he had been able to lender had been acceptable. The speaker concluded by thanking His Worship for the help and advice that was always available and wishing him go. d health and further success durinc the coming two years. (Applause.) It was resolved to record the loyal services rendered to the borough oy Crs. Lamb and Bain.