MANUREWA

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 463, 12 September 1919, Page 1 (Supplement)

MANUREWA

£SOOO Loan Peoposal. At a meeting of ratepayers the chairman of the Town Board (Mr C. H. Lupton) in the chair, the question of raising a loan for road works was discussed. The chairman stated that motor traffic had come to stay, and the present road surface was not going to stand the increased traffic. It was recognised by all that they could not do any new work out of rates, and therefore loans had to be resorted to. Labour had gone up 40 per cent, since the commencemtnt of the war. If the Board wanted to maintain what roads it had under its jurisdiction, it would have to go out for a loan to do other work. He instanced the Mangere Riding of the Manukau County, which was going in for a £3o,oo<>Joan. " Now," said Mr Lupton, " you could not find any better roads in the Province than those of Mangere, but still they would not ho'd the increasing motor traffic." Other districts were undertaking important works, but Manurewa was remaining still, and instead of forging ahead was going back. They had one of the prettiest and healthiest suburbs, and it was up to them to make the place as attractive as possible, so as to induce others to come and buy up land and assist the present ratepayers to bear the burdens ahead of them. Water, light, and drainage had to come. He intended bringing forward a loan scheme for £SOOO. The majority of the Board was in favour of a loan, but not until they were clear of the county, which would be next April. They had a population of over 500, and he had made a declaration to this effect. There were many other things they required, apart from what he had mentioned, including offices for the Board and a cemetery for j the township. The capital value of the town district was ] £1:51,000, and a Id in the £ rate on that amount would bring in £542 less Id per cent, £500.) Five and a-quarter per cent, in- j terest and one per cent, sinking fund, the £SOO would pay interest and sinking fund on a loan of£*»K)o. The rate they were now paying in the Manukau County would pay the interest and sinking fund an a loan of £,xooo. Referring to tar roads he said there were three kinds tar sealing, tar grouting and tar macadam. According to experienced engineers' reports concrete roads would cost £4765 per mile, while tar macadam costs £1570 per mile. A voice: We are fifty years behind the times here. The chairman: I say we are behind the times, and now is the time for us to go ahead. The County Council hoped to get a grant from the Government to do the Great South Road. They had applied for a grant from the Government for the purpose o f cutting down the school hills. The Government was prepared to grant £ for £ up to £4OO, but he understood the County would not expend such a large sum of money out of rates in one particular place. A loan was required to do the work. He moved " That this meeting of ratepayers approved of the principle of going in for a loan." Mr. Corin pointed out that he was not opposed to a borrowing policy, provided it was gone in for at the proper time. He contended that at the present time they did not get value for their money. Labour conditions were so unsettled. He moved as an amendment that the matter be postponed for one year. Mr E j|putterworth seconded.

Lengthy discussion followed, the majority of speakers being in favour of a loan proposal. The amendment was defeated by twenty votes to ten, and the motion was subsequently carried unanimously. It is intended to hold another meeting in the near future, to give full details with regard to the loan scheme. RECREATION GROUND SITE The matter was discussed at length, and eventually the following committee was setup, to select convenient sites, and to report as to their suitability at a future meeting—Mesdames Pattullo and Warlich, and Messrs DeCarteret, Gerghty, McNaughton, King and Cox. A vote of thanks to th chairman terminated the meeting .. i i