PUKEKOHE'S LOAN PROPOSALS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 261, 31 December 1914, Page 2

PUKEKOHE'S LOAN PROPOSALS

Loan proposals concerning gas anrl water for Pukekohe are to be submitted for autboiisa'i' n '.o the ratepayers on Febinary 3rd next, but whilst the si heme for n municipal gas Mipply will extend oyer tbe whole of the Borough and all the ratepayers can an ordingly vote for or against such installation the additional water loan recommended by tbe Borough Council will only concern the ratepayers within the area known as "the old Town Board district." Wo have previously referred in these columns to the desirability of public support being given to the gas propositi, which distinctly stands on its merits as an undertaking that should be endorsed by the ratepayers, especially vs assurance is forthcoming from such an eminent and responsible gas expert as Mr Webb Blackmuti that the gas installation should as in other places not only prove self-paying but should be a source of revenue to the town with the additional advantages of the adoption of effective street lighting and provision to deal with the dust nuisance in the form of tar a gas residual) for the treatment of the roads. The loan asked for by the Council for water Durpoaes is quite independent of the gas schenie to be submitted, as already stated, at the same time to the ratepayers. Already the outlay for water has entailed an expenditure of ,£1:5,550 and sanction to raise a further sum of £2BOO is now sought by the Council, to be mainly expended on the construction oi an additional reservoir at a "-tower level than the

. | existing reservoir. The Waterworks , I Committee fear that a breakdown . ! in the constant and excessive pump- , ing neceasaiy to rai?e water to the , I high altitude of the present re;er- | voir is liable to occur at any time, ! in which case the supnly of water ! to tht town would, pending repairs, ' I bo cut off. The Committee also 1 1 consider that the current method of 1 ! pumping water so high is unduly " I expensive. The Committee must be ! given credit for an honest endeavour ' j to grapple with an unpleaiant situa- ' | tion, especially as a copious supply • j of water is all-important to any • | community and seeing that the ex- • ! rating works have already in cost } corsid:rably exceeded the original • estimate. But the question arises i lard the information should not be • withheld from the ratepayers), "Is • the £2BOO now asked for likely to . j be a final expense?" The ratepayers r' are entitled to be made acquainted . I with the fact that the outlay now 5 j suggested fcrms only a small part I of the recommendations of the I i Advisory Engineer (Mr Lockie ! Gannon). Indeed, Cr Hamilton, on j behalf cf the Waterworks Com- | mittee, asked at the Council meeting last week for £7OOO bv way of a 1 i loan and even that figure was a 1 good way short of Mr Lockie 1 3 Gannon's contemplated outlay. The ' j result of the subsequent discussion 1 was that the Council approved of ' \ the ratepayers being asked to ' ! sanction a loan of £2500 (afterwards increased to £2BOO to cover attendant loan expenses) frr work that the Council considered urgent. Perusal of the Engineer's report, i however, fails to show that Mr Gannon finds that anything of a pressing or urgent nature is necessary, and it may accordingly na reasonably urged that the Council has been somewhat precipitats in arriving at a decision to embark on any immediate work. If the danger is that perchance the pumping plant may break down the wiser arc! less expensive course to pursue would probably be to instal a duplicate stand-by plant. For a town the size of Pukekohe the j syßtem of water supply has already J proved costly and the ratepayers would naturally like to see some finality in the money expended on water. Then again the Waterworks Committee .«uge;eeted an increase of charges that has alarmed consumer?, the proposal being that water should be paid for Ht the rate of 15s for :iOOO gallons per I quarter instead c f 5s for 4000 j gallons bs at present. Actual | | decision on this recommendation j was postponed, but the fact that an ■ increased water »ate and u higher charge for water are both rontcm- | plated by the Council will not he

consoling ti the ratepayer, the majority of whom are also con Burners. Taking all Chintrs into consideration, we are of opinion that the Council should have ilm wlio'e system reported on by sou.e engineer, who is a specialist in water ulattera. If the txpeit arrives at the oonolusion that tho system is " a white elephant," as suggested by Or Pollock, then further tinkering with it is inadvisable. Tf on the other hand the export give* it as his opinion that it is serviceable or could bo rendered effective tho people of Pukokohe will be relieved i of anxiety. now stand tlu> position is decidedly unsatisj factory and the ratepayers cannot ! be blaiied if they are averse to authorising a further loth on what isdeeciibod by a Councillor as "a white elephant."