BIRKENHEAD LOANS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 387, 22 June 1928, Page 13

BIRKENHEAD LOANS

MAYOR EXPLAINS PROPOSALS Keen interest was taken by the ratepayers at the public meeting held last evening in connection with the Birkenhead Borough Council’s proposal to raise a loan of £8,950, and which will be submitted :o a poll of ratepayers next Thursday. The Mayor, Mr. E. G. Skeates, ptesided, and was supported by the Deputy-Mayor, Mr. A. Madfield. In explaining the proposals, the Mayor said three separate issues would be voted upon. The sum of £3,250 was required for the combined purposes of purchasing a recreation ground at Birkdale, and the construction of a swimming pool near the Birkenhead Wharf. The special rate required for interest and sinking fund was 3-16ths of a penny in the £ on the unimproved value. For the construction of boat-lockers, staging and skid, near the Birkenhead Wharf, £470 was needed, which would entail a special rate of l-32nd of a penny for the loan and for the water extension loa.n of £5,230 the special rate would be 19-64ths of a penny in the £. The loans were for 30 years, and the sinking fund was 1£ per cent, annually. The aggregate rate for the three proposals would be 33-64ths of a penny in the £. A number of questions were asked, the Mayor admitting that the Little Shoal Bay reserve, invested in the Northcote and Birkenhead Councils, was the ideal place for a sports ground, but the cost of filling in was prohibitive. The area of the land proposed to be acquired at Birkdale was over 13X acres, and was fairly level. The price to be paid for the land was £1,050. The Loans Board had rejected that part of the loan to improve this ground, so it would have to be done oat of revenue as funds permitted. Various sports clubs had offered their help as working bees. The question of providing 4in. water mains throughout the borough, and the urgent need of a fire brigade, was raised by a representative of the Ratepayers’ Association. The Mayor said that fire-fighting appliances will be under review, and will be considered with the estimates. The Deputy-Mayor said that no one could guarantee that the sports ground, swimming baths or boat-lockers would be self-supporting for several years to come, but they probably would in time, and be a good asset to the district. The Mayor, in answer to Mr. G. R. Hutchinson, a member of the Auckland Harbour Board, was emphatic that the four proposals were separate, and had been accepted by the board in respect to three of them. The non-acceptance of the board’s terms of the fourth by the council was not fatal to the other three, and the council would not. even for the sake of the swimming pool and boat-lockers, agree to become liable for the upkeep of the stone wall embankment and the dedication of the road which was only used to give access to the board's jetties