PERMANENT STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

Shannon News, 2 May 1924, Page 3

PERMANENT STREET IMPROVEMENTS.

FAVOURED BY COUNCIL. At a previous meeting of the Shannon Borough Council a notice of motion was given by ,Cr. Hyde: “That the Council proceed to borrow £3OOO tor permanent street improvements,’’ and at Tuesday night’s meeting the motion came before the Oouncil for consideration. ..Or. Hyde said at the previous meeting the question had been discussed at | length, but for the- benefit of members who were not present at that meeting he would point out that at present, Whereas they had £3OO to spend annually, which was frittered

away in temporary work, they could be borrowing £3OOO at 6 per cent., it would only cost them. £IBO per annum in interest, which could be paid out of, the general rate. They would thus be able to do something, of a permanent nature. If necessary they could strike' a rate and the general rate could be redulced'. He said improvements must be made permanent. Be did not favour patch work. The, placing of gravel on footpaths was largely waste, q! money, because it was not long before they were overgrown with grass and weeds. He .favoured concrete slabs being put down, these having /proved a success in other towns, as they couild be removed with ease when required for water or sewerage connections. He pointed out that the Engineer was being paid a fee of £50 t and other expenses out of the '£300,. the Council had to spend and they had practically nothing for him to do. If the Engineer’s engagement was terminated tills would mean a saving. The Mayor informed Gr. Hyde that the Engineer could not make a charge on a percentage - basis for street improvements, only on water and sewerage works.. Gr. Hyde said that if that was the case, they couild leave the question of the Engineer out of it. But lie considered if they worked, on the fines be had suggested the town, would benefit.

Cr. Murray, who seconded the motion, said he had always supported such a scheme since coming on the Council. On Cr. Hyde’s figures it is shown that they would have £IBO per year to find in interest. They had on the estimates for this year £l3O lor improvements in three streets! which,-when carried out would only be .a daub; as it was impossible to do much with that amount of money. Next; year and the following year the saline thing would occur and £4OO would be eaten up, and nothing of a permanent nature done. By the new scheme .they would be 1 able to get something permanent with no extra cost to the ratepayers. While admitting there was a lot of work to be done as regards sewerage and water, it was absurd to turn electric light on in a town with no footpaths., If with all the other work coming on and it was going to be a burden on the ratepayers, it was a, matter that should stilil be given every consideration. If £112,000 had been puit down for permanent improvements Shannon would be better off as a Borough.

Cr. Beard said he favoured • the scheme and pointed out that the great feature was that there would be up extra burden on the. ratepayers. He contended the -tame had arrived when a permanent job should be carried o»ut.

Cr. Curran said that as regards loans he was dead against them. He said he had been through the streets in seven towns lately where loans had been carried for improevements and they were no better than our own.

Cr. Gardner: While on the Council I have always objected to paying interest out of revenue.' If .important work came' along at any time where would be be? He would sooner borrow money and strike a small rate, then they Would always have the general raite to fall back on.

Cr. Gunning contended that £?000 would ,be quite, useless, -as the Council could not do much with that amount. There Would always be the demand from other streets. He was against frittering away money and the sum was totally inadequate for the work required.

■ln reply to Cr. Butt, Cr. Gunning ■said lie- would favour" borrowing a, larger sum for street improvements, when shwerage came before ratepayers and that it be included on the voting paper.

Cr. Hyde pointed out that in 20 years’ time there would still be demands for improvements. Any progress that had been made was largely due to the Borough Council since taking from the HonoWhenua County Council.

Cr. Carter said he had always been against patch work. He agreed that £3OOO was not sufficient. Before going /to the ratepayer's they should get- out an estimate to see how much they required. If; they wanted certain parts of the town more thickly populated they had got to make it attractive.

The question was, “Is the present time an opportune one? If Shannon. \vas going to be a decent town they would have to (have good streets, water, sewerage and lighting. r 'Gr. Curran: Where is it proposed t;o spend this money?

Cr. Hyde: That has not yet been decided.

Gr. Murray : One of the first tilings to do is to make the main streets presentable, and then put down the Iterbing. It would be 12 months before we got going. He Was satisfied the issue should be put before the public. The average ratepayer was clamouring for something to he done and 'was entitled to have an opportunity to vote on’it. It would be no burden on the ratepayers. Cr. Carter; Is this a question of the Council going ahead or is it to be pfit the ratepayers. If the letter he would support the proposal. Gr. Hyde; it is to go before the ratepayers. The Mayor said the rate on £3OOO would be one farthing in the £l. They had already borrowed £II,OOO for water, and would require £BSOO for sewerage, £3OOO street improvements, new municipal buildings £2OOO, together wlith debt to the Horowhenut Coouinty Gouncil making a total of roughly £28,000. He agreed the weakness Was the amount of work that could be done for the sum. Before the motion was puit to the ratepayers it Would be necessary tq find out What amount w|as required. The Council must fix a schedule of work to be carried out. Or. Hyde moved and Cr. Murray seconded: “That approximately £3OOO be borrowed by the Gouncil for street improvements and a scheme be prepared showing what money is to be spent qn the various parts, and that the Engineer and Road Gommittee prepare a schedule of work recommended, which is to be put before the Council and discussed at a later meeting.”—Carried. BRIDGE OVER! OTAURU STREAM. SIDES TO BE FILLED IN/ The Engineer drew attention to the bridge recently erected over Otauru stream and. pointed out that if the approaches qn each side were not filled in, the bridge was liable to be washed away if a big flood came down, there being the danger of erosion.

The Mayor said .he understood when the bridge was being built by the Council that the owner of the property was to do the filling in. When interviewed on the matter the owner contended he was only to put in his oiwn side.

Asked what the cost of putting in the one approach would be the Engineer stated it Would cost about £4.

Grr Butt, a member of the Road Gommittee, said he understood before the last estimate, that the Council was to do the filling in on the road side.

Cr. Murray moved and Cr. Gunning seconded, that it he referred to the Road Committee to deal with.