MUNICIPAL CHAMBERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4843, 19 June 1925, Page 2

MUNICIPAL CHAMBERS.

QUESTION BEFORE THE COUNCIL. NOTICE OF MOTION BY MAYOR. The question of building a suitable suite •of offices for municipal chambers; and more especially for housing valuable borough records, was' the subject of a long discussion at Wednesday night's meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council when the Mayor moved .the following motion i—“That immediate steps be taken to place before the ratepayers a proposal to raise £2OOO for the purpose of providing offices for the Council on the old library site next to. the post office in Normanby Road." Seconded by Cr. Silcock. Cr. Brenan said he was of the opinion that if it was necessary to go before the ratepayers for a loan, then Hint loan uhould be raised for the purpose of improving reading facilities. Admittedly the present offices were hopelessly- inadequate, but the burden on the ratepayers was as heavy as they could carry. Cr. Hare agreed with Cr. Silcock,. and said that he could not believe the ratepayers would grudge the Mayor end town clerk something like decent offices in which to work, apart from the fact that valuable records were in jeopardy from fire. A loan would not be a perious matter for ratepayers, otherwise he would oppose the proposal.

The Mayor said that the £1 a week now being paid in rent could still be paid, but not as rent, because it. could go against interest and sinking fund.

Cr. de Castro though that if the rate was not heavy, then the council should not hesitate to erect its newbuilding.

The Mayor pointed out that the responsibility was on the council for the safekeeping of itjs valuable records, and he wished to make it known publicly that the present accommodation was inadequate, and that much valuable data would be destroyed in the event of a fire. Cr. Edwards said that if it meant a loan he would only favour, the larger scheme. He tho-ught the matter might be deferred until next meeting to give time for investigation. Crs. de Castro, Pinder, and Porritt said they were strongly in favour or the Mayor’s proposal, and agreed that the present offices were quite unsuitable. -

Cr. Flatt tsaid he was distinctly < opposed to the proposal as moved by > the Mayor. It would be some years . • before a town hall would be warranted, and he did not favour Cr. Edwards’ suggestion of the big scheme. He did not agree that the present offices were unsuitable, but the fire risk was a serious one. A previous - suggestion to build an adequate strongroom costing about £lOO had; not been (seriously considered, and he thought it might very well be considered. The loan moneys were mounting up, and yet there was an enormous amount of work to be done. ; So long as money was required for the streets he was not prepared to support expenditure on new chambers. It should be the council’s first care ' to cover existing debentures, and to ■ put the roads and streets in better ■,- condition.

The Mayor stated that it had been good business to raise money by hypothecated debentures. The financial position of the borough was quite satisfactory. He would welcome any inquiries into the administration of the finances of the borough, and challenged Cr. Flatt’s statement that the finances were not being adequately conserved. The raising bf £2OOO for municipal offices was ,in his opinion, an absolute necessity, and the burden, if any, would be negligible on the ratepayers.

The resolution was then put and carried, Crs. Brenan, Edwards, and Flatt voting against it.