BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSAL.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 2992, 30 January 1926, Page 4

BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSAL.

EXPLANATORY LETTER TO RATEPAYERS.

The following letter has been forwarded to ratepayers by Borough Council in reference to the forthcoming loan poll: — “To The Ratepayers: —On Wednesday, 3rd February, a proposal to borrow the sum of £5,000, for the purpose of tar sealing various streets and footpaths in the Borough will be submitted for your approval. “Details of the work proposed are as follows: —: STREETS. Union St. (Main St. to Nye St.) 50 Chains Johnston St. (Union St. to Purcell St.) 23 Chains Victoria & Park (Avenue Rd. to Russell St.) 04 Chains Avenue Road (Main St. to Johnston St.) 17 Chains Norbiton Road (Russell St. Eastward.) 23 Chains Lady’s Mile (Park St. Westward). 57 Chains

A total of 240 chains i.c. 3 miles at an estimated cost of £I,OOO per mile. FOOTPATHS. Cook St. 20 chains Francis St. 8 chains RussellSt. 11 chains Lady’s Mile 57 chains Ravensworth 4 chains Union St. 40 chains Avenue Rd. 27 chains Thynne St. 17 chains Duncan St. 14 chains Coley St. 32 chains

A total of 230 chains At an estimated cost of £llBO, making a total outlay of £4,180. Owino- to the increase in railway freights on metal, etc,, allowance has been made for a sum sufficient to get all the work completed. Any surplus remaining unexpended after these works are finished will be spent on the Avenue and Coley St., and other streets as the money per-

mits. , “So much for the proposed works, which have been set down so far as the streets are concerned in accordance with the traffic and present suitability for tarsealing, and the footpaths in accordance with the houses served by such paths. The constantly increasing traffic necessitates a considerable increase in the cost of road maintenance and the need tor permanent surfaces is imperative to reduce the enormous cost of maintenance. Year by year maintenance costs arc increasing; last year the sum of £llsO was provided in the estimates, but £1304 was actually expended, while this year the sum of £I2OO was provided, but for the nine months ended 31st December, 1925, the sum of £1526 8s 3d had already been spent. A substantial increase in the rates on this account alone must be necessary or a solution found in some other direction. Permanent surfacing seems to offer this solution, but unless this is done out of loan monies the annual burden will be heavier instead of lighter. You arc therefore asked to support this honest endeavour to lighten the burden. The works to be done out of this loan of £5,000 will have the effect of reducing the cost of maintenance by nearly £SOO per annum, which sum after paying, say, £3OO in interest, will mean an annual saving of £2OO to the borough. “The Council cannot guarantee a decrease in rates even if the loan is carried, but it can practically guarantee that the rates will be no more than they will eventually rise lo if the loan is not carried. “At the same time there is an advantage in that instead of waiting for several years for these works to be done out of revenue which Will have to be the case if the loan is not carried, the whole schedule can be put in hand at once and the work gone on with immediately. “\Ve feel that now the last section of the water and drainage works is “being completed we are justified in bringing this proposal 'before you with a fair prospect of

success, “\\'e also desire lo point out tliat the lirst Roads and Streets Loan was carried in 1905 for £3303, and the only other one, apart from the Beach Road Loan, was a small loan of. £307 in 1910. It is therefore 10 years since a loan lor roads and streets was raised. “In conclusion we make the statement that this proposal is merely a business proceeding ol providing capital monies for permanent works, instead of paying for them out of current rates, and we have no hesitation in recommending it to the ratepayero for their unanimous approval; the Council itself is unanimous in its support. “The ispue is quite plain, the work that has already been done is there for all to see. The work of past Councils has been of the highest standard consistent with due economy, and we trust you will help us in our attempt at progress. “Rolling Day Wednesday, 3rd February, 1920, at the Town Hal Supper Room Hours from 9.U a.m. to 7.0 p.m.” F. WOODS, Chairman Works Committee. M. E. PERREAUj Mayor.