£150

Levin Daily Chronicle, 22 May 1917, Page 3

£150

FO®, IMPROVEMENT® TO HOROWHENIUA LtAKE. DEPUTATION TO LEVIN BOROUGH 'COUNCIL. .

(Messrs A. Dempsey, J. Robertson, and J. Broughton waited on the Le(Borough Council last night. They came as a deputation from the Lake Domain Board and asked the Borough Council to make a grant of £I'so to enalble the board to carry out improvements outlined in the report prepared and published two months ago. Mr Robertson said that the Lake [Domain Board had at present some £50 in hand, but the work requiring to bo carri"d out was likely to cost some £183. If the scheme were carried lout tSe 'bci rough would ipossess one of the finest recreation grounds in the whole coast, and one that would attract visitors to the town. The board was unanimous in approving the scheme (the , only ..point of difference was as to whether the present time was- • opportune for carrying out the work, this had beeir brought up by his worship the mayor of Levin). Mr Robertson submitted that Ahe twjonk was very desirable. iMr Dempsey said the very fact of the Government having given powei to the council to spend money on the lake showed that the Government thought sucli expenditure within the council's proper sphere. iMr Dempsey said that it should be remembered that most oif tihe money would go for labor, which would be carried out by the council's staff. Councillor Parker asked was it proposed to spend the £150 right off or to spread it over a period.

Mr Robertson said it might 'be possible to spread the expenditure over a period of one or two years, but he though it would be inadvisable Ao lengthen that period. OoUnillor Mafcheson eaid thalfc in a - matter like this the public should be asked to assist. If the public gave donations public interest would be increased. Mr Robertson said tbiat the board felt that something definite was . required from the governing body to begin with; after that the public interest should be awakened and found helpful Councillor Parker asked if the county council had ibeen approached for assistance. Mr Robertson eaid no ; there was no mention of the county council in the Act, and he did not iknow whether or no it would ibe within the county council's power to make a grant. At 'a later stage of the meeting, the mayor Bajd he thought the opportune time for carrying out the improvements would be after peace had been declared and our lads came back. (Hear, hear!) There was no doubt that the lake was .a neglected asset, ibut to ask the council to foot this heavy bill at the present time was not wise.

Councillor (Lancaster eaid this was a big question, and he thought it would be well to put it off* Councillor , Matheson "supported Councillor Lancaster's suggestion. The scheme .appealed to him, and he thought if it was possible to help it forward that should-be done. The motion toi defer consideration until next meeting was agreed to.