THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1925. MUNICIPAL OFFICES.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4859, 31 July 1925, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, JULY 31, 1925. MUNICIPAL OFFICES.

A good deal of interest is being centred by the ratepayers of Paeroa on the forthcoming municipal poll to be taken on Wednesday of next week. The proposal of the Borough Council is to borrow the sum of £2OOO for the purpose of providing suitable council chambers, and is worthy of the consideration of every ratepayer. The amount of the loan is small, but considerable importance is attached to the question and! it is a duty encumbent on every to carefully weigh the matter in order that a wise decision m,ay be. given. ■.The first point which must be considered is: Are new chambers necessary ? To this even the opponents of the proposal will answer “yes.” In the circular issued by the Borough Council statements are made which set out clearly the inadequacy and unsuitability of the present offices. In order to place the matter before our readers we have made careful inspection, and after investigation have come to. the conclusion, that the position is even worse than stated in the circular, and should not, if we have any pride in our town at all, be allowed to continue. The poky little den in which the Mayor and town clerk are compelled to work is, to say the least, a. disgrace for a town of the importance that Paeroa has reached to-day. A separate room should be available in which the Mayor could be interviewed, whereas ,at present there is neither privacy nor convenience hi any way. To get the best results from labour it is well established that working conditions must be favourable, and nobody with the least sense of honour can say that the present offices are at all what they should be. The question of fire risk in connection with the plans, records, books, and stationery is an important one, and o.n this point alone a vote in favour of the proposal is merited. We were supplied with evidence where the productoin of tlie copy of one letter alone meant £l3O t<j the ratepayers, and we firmly believe it would not be an exaggeration to say the money value of the accumulated records and plans which are now in the office would be easily more than double the 'cost of the proposed building. For the present the majority of the plans are stored in the Mayor’s strong-room; but this is no

argument against the proposal, and the Council will certainly not be doing its duty if it fails to protect all the flies and records of the borough. It ie granted that the present office was an economical one for the Council to commence its operations in, but the expansion of the work, coupled witli the growth of the town, has made it a back number, and the building presents an appearance entirely out of keeping with what one would expect to sec in a rising and progressive town. The necessity for tne building has been clearly shown, and if we wish our town to prosper we must advance with the times, and in these matters the municipality should take the lead. Thup, viewed from any angle, new council chambers are absolutely necessary for Paeroa. The question of site is one which In causing those opposed to the proposition unnocoHßiiry alarm. The propoHiil to build on the section next to the now potfl. office Is, we, consider, very sound, mt Ilin she Is tt conveninnl olio mid coniiniinds n good position. Above nil, It hi the property of the Connell, having boon recently li'iiiisfui'rod by the ii'tliflaow of tne I'ublie Library to the Council, and Is u|. prenont the only vacant unction owned by the public anywhere In the town iireti, When the mutter of erecting offices was discussed over two yours ago this site was mentioned, but it could not be. utilised owing to being held by trustees of the public library. It was only when the library became municipalised and an undertaking was, given by the Council .to at all times provide a site .and building for the library that a transfer could be made to the Council, and this was arranged for the express purpose in view.

The question of the class of building to be erected is of importance. In this it must be confessed* that the proposal is, rather too modest, but ai the same time the Council apparently considers that it would not be justified in seeking authority to borrow more than is absolutely necessary, and has in consequence cut the buildring down to what it considers- a bare necessity while providing for many years in advance.

Concerning the financial proposals of the loan, it appears that it will not be necessary to collect a rate; but even' if that should be necessary the additional cost, ,as pointed out in the circular, would only be £BB per annum, against which must be set the one per cent, for sinking fund, which amounts to £2O per anilum. This means that the ratepayers will actually be acquiring their, own building, which. will be an asset to the town .and long outlive the loan.

The work of the Municipal Corporation, or in other words work in the common interests of the people of Paeroa, must be carried on. It has of late greatly increased, and will year by year, as the town and district progress, steadily continue to increase, and adequate office accommodation must, be provided. The responsibility for this provision now rests with the ratepayers, and on Wednesday next we hope to see tne proposal carried and a further step of prosperity entered upon. The future of the town, we are convinced, is assured if a united effort cain be made and support given to those who take the lead and give their best services in promoting the ultimate, good of Paeroa. .