BOROUGH IMPROVEMENTS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 517, 13 November 1912, Page 5

BOROUGH IMPROVEMENTS.

FOOTPATHS AND CHANNELLING PROPERTY OWNERS TO CONTRI- * BUTE. A phase of the loan proposals promoted by the Borough Council was dealt with at the Council meeting on Monday evening, when a recommendation from the Legal and Finance Committee was considered. At a previous meeting Cr Somerville had moved a resolution that the property-owners in front of whose places the asphalt footpaths and concrete channelling were to be placed should pay half the cost of the work. The matter was referred to the Legal and Finance Committee to report, and after conferring with the borough solicitor the committee submitted a report recommending that the Council do the work without charge to the property owners. In discussing the recommendation Cr Julian said he had always considered the charge to be well recognised in the same manner as the obligation of the property-uwner to clear half his frontage of noxious weeds. He believed in the principle. Cr Walsh said the Borough solicitor was quite of opinion the course suggested could be adopted, but it would lead to infinite trouble with the ratepayers, and everything considered, it would, in his opinion, be advisable for the Council to do the work. Cr Jones said the Borough solicitor had further stated it was a very unusual course to adopt, the object of the section in the Act being to meet extraordinary cases only. Cr Somerville said he was quite aware it was unusual to charge the property-owners for footpaths, and kerbing opposite their properties. They had many things to consider. The majority of the money already spent in the town had been expended on the business centre of the town. The major portion of the new loan was to be spent on the same part of the town, while the ratepayers on the outksirts were more or less neglected. He considered tho properties which were receiving the benefit should pay something for it. Half the cost might be excessive, but probably a quarter would be a fair thing.

Cr Tammadge agreed with the principle enunciated by Cr Somerville. Cr Floyd said that before he had received the information and opinion of the solicitor he was willing to support Cr Somerville's suggestion. However, he was sure that trouble would arise if the suggestion was carried out, and he thought the Council should do the work. Cr Jones moved the adoption of the report of the Finance and Legal Committee on the matter. Cr Walsh seconded the motion. Cr Somerville moved an amendment to the effect that the property-owners opposite to where asphalt footpaths were to be formed and concrete channelling nlaced should be called upon to contribute one-fourth the cost of the Work. The amendment was seconded by Cr Tammadge, who instanced the fact that unimproved sections were to have footpaths and kerbing placed opposite, and he considered it right that the properties which would be improved should contribute to the cost. The amendment on being put was carried, the Mayor, Crs Scmervilie, Tammadge and Julian voting for, and Crs Floyd, Jones and Walsh against.