STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5181, 21 September 1927, Page 2

STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

LOANS BOARD AUTHORISES £l5OO.

POLL TO BE TAKEN.

A special meeting of the Paeroa Borough Council was held last night, His Worship the Mayor (Mr W. Marshall) presiding over the following • Crs. E. Edwards. P. E. Brenan, J. W. Silcock, H. J. Hare, W. Turner, and the town clerk (Mr W. C. Alexander).

The business before the meeting was the consideration of a communication from the Local Government Loans board, with reference to the council’s application for authority to borrow the sum of £4500, and forwarded the following resolution, which was passed by the board at its meeting held on September 14 :

“That the board, having considered the; application of the Paeroa Borough Council for its sanction to a loan of £4'500, to be known 'as Improvements to Main Streets;Loan, 1927, for the purpose of reconstruction of main streets, rolling and metalling specified streets, and cleaning and painting specified streets, hereby sanctions the application, subject to the following conditions,; — 1. “That the term for which the loan is borrowed shall not exceed 15 years.

2. “That the, rate of interest payable, shall not exceed £6 per cent, per annum.

3. “That the local authority shall, before borrowing the said sum, or any part thereof make provision for the repayment by establishing a sinking fund of 5 per cent, per annum calculated on the amount raised. 4. “That no portion of interest or sinking fund shall be paid out of loan money.

5. “That, the local authority divide the loan proposal into two constituent items, namely, penetration macadam work as distinct* from metal-, ling, to the intent that ratepayers may vote separately on each item.’ ”

The, Mayor said the only condition in the, resolution which required earnest consideration was the fifth one, and on receipt of the information the following telegram wa.s despatched to the Loans Board: “Fifth condition impracticable. Metalling proceeding out of unemployment loan and district fund account. Actually £4500 has to be used for penetration macadam : two coats bitumen £1556, surface painting £2592, 14s, contingencies £230 10s,. expenses; £6O, metal £6O 16s; therefore- practically loan for bituminising only. Under circumstances can we ignore condition five. Kindly wire reply, as matter most urgent because if we miss doing bitumen work this summer traffic will seriously damage new work.” In a telegraphed reply with yesterday’s date the Loans Board stated : “Reference, your telegram, the object of the Loans Board was to give ratepayers an opportunity of voting separately for penetration macadam, say, £l6OO, and balance for sealing, etc., £2900', if full loan not acceptable. The board, howeveir, will not insist on the condition if you find it impracticable.” The Mayor said that personally he strongly objected to splitting the items. He failed to see that it would be advisable or desirable to give the ratepayers two proposals to vote on under the circumstances. It should be one proposal or nothing in his opin-

A similar view was shared by Cr. Edwards, who said that it was not desirable to do a portion of the work to the 'disadvantage or neglept of another area.

Cr. Brenan said he did not agree that the interest and sinking fund amounting to over £llOO should b’ e taken out of the district fund account for that work. His views were well known, and hei saw no reason why h e Should’ -alter his opinion.

The Mayor replied that that point had already been fully discussed and unanimously agreed upon.

The Mayor then moved the following resolution, which was seconded by Cr. Edwards :—

“That having now obtained the consept of the Local Government Loans Board, steps be taken, pursuant to sections 11 and 12 of the Local Bodies Loans Act, 1926, to place before the ratepayers a proposal to borrow the sum of £4500' for the purpose, of improvements to main streets ; the loan to be for a term of 15 years, at a rate of interest not exceeding 6 per cent, per annum with a sinking fund of 5 per cent, per annum ; that the loan be. raised over the whole of the aiea known as the Borough of Paeroa; that the proposed security for the payment of the interest and sinking fund be a special rate of 13-16 d in the £ on the unimproved value of all rateable property within the borough , that the cost of raising the loan be paid out of the loan.”—-Carried. It was- resolved that the poll be taken on Thursday, October 20. A resolution was also passed authorising the town clerk to amend the ratepayers’ roll. PUBLICITY FOR PROPOSAL. The Mayor pointed out that in addition to passing the resolutions it would be necessary to take; some measures to see that the loan was carried. When previous loan proposals had been submitted circulars ■had been sent to ratepayers, and public meetings of ratepayers had been called. He would like an expression of opinion from the councillors. The sending of circulars. Was favoured by Cr. Turner, who said that if the proposal was clearly set out in the circular the ratepayers could be sure of the facts and then take them or leave them, as they wished. It was pointed out by Cr. Silcock that a public meeting had alreadybeen held, and he thought the, ratepayers were fairly conversant with thq proposal. On the motion of Cr. Edwards it was resolved to post circulars to all ratepayers'. RATEPAYERS’ ROLL. With reference to the ratepayers’ roll, the Mayor said that it should be carefully purged and brought right up-to-date. He did not think anything should be left to chance. It would bea great pity if the loan was not authorised and the work of reconstruction already done allowed to go back.

If every councillor would shoulder e portion of the responsibility and co operate in acquainting ratepayers ol the desirability of carrying the loar he thought that all would be well. In reply to Cr. Brenan the Mayoi said that ratepayers only would be entitlejd to vote. The roll would not b( a large- one. Cr. Turner gave it as his opinior that much good could be done if the councillors would get into persona' touch with th© ratepayers. He wouk be quite prepared to do all he coulc to assist. The Mayor expressed his thanks tt Cr. Turner, and agreed that persona: contact would count for a lot. It was stated by Cr. Hare that sc far as he had been able to gather the proposal was well spoken of, and h« was optimistic enough to think i 1 Would receive support from the rate; payers. <-