PROBLEMS TO PAY FOR

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 97, 27 November 1953, Page 4

PROBLEMS TO PAY FOR

THE growth of Taupo in recent years, which has led inevitably to its being granted the status of a borough, is already bringing before the minds of all thoughtful citizens the problems of providing public amenities which that growth is rapidly making more and more necessary. A comparatively few years ago the "Main Street" was a narrow road fianked with grass, broom, and tree stumps, and, like several of the adjacent side streets, often liberally sprinkied with old tins and other rubbish. The late Rev. H. J. Fletcher, seeking and receiving the support of several other residents, got the Government of the day to set up the Taupo Road Board, first local governing authority in the Taupo Country, whose main function was seen at the time as the cutting back of broom, from existing roads and the general tidying up of the town area. The problems that lie ahead today are weightier ones, but at the same time there are larger powers and more citizens to deal with them. f i * The gale of wind that blew 011 Thursday night and Friday morning of last week brought with it, in the dust eloud that shrouded the streets and penetrated every house, a reminder of one of the pressing problems facing the Borough, namely the necessity of some scheme of street sealing. An epidemic of dysentry of a bad tvpe which occurred in the much smaller township of sorne fifteeri years ago,' resulting in eighty odd cases and several deaths, was caused, according to medical opinion at the time, by laek of sanitation coupied with unprotected water supplies from roof-fed tanks. With the increased and growing population of today the need for water supply and drainage to forestall such dangers will become steadily more urgent. All of these matters, street sealing, water supply, sewerage, *have engaged the minds of Town Board r members for some considerable time, and there is no doubt that

they will before long receive careful thought and action from the present Borough Council. There is not likely to be any doubt in the public mind as ♦to their necessity, the problem first to be settled being mainly that of which is to be tackled first and to what extent, a problem that will be largely a financial one. A recent report to the Town Board, by the Health Department's inspector, having indicated that septic tank drainage in the business area of the town would serve for some years to come, it may be that street sealing and water-sup-ply will have priority of attention. The first of these problems has already had some attention, the Town Board having made a modest but welcome beginning with the sealing of certain streets in the business area, paid for out of revenue. This brings us to the point we wish to make, which is not concerned with thej question of which of the problems mentioned \s to be tackled first, nor with details as to what streets should first be sealed, nor as to what area should be first served with water, or when. The point we refer to is concerned with the manner in which such public amenities, in their due turn, are to be financed. We suggest that no progress quick enough to be of sufficient benefit will be possible without the use of loan moneys. Taupo has to date raised loans only for electric power and the A.C. Baths, with another for Council housing in prospect, all of which will be self-supporting. But loans for the public amenities we have discussed will inevitably mean increased rates. Taxation is aiways unpopular, but taxes, like death, cannot be escaped. If Taupo is to progress it will only be possible by paying more in rates for that progress. Consideration and acceptance of this necessity by its citizens will encourage and strengthen the hands of its Mayor and Borough Councillors when they in due season approach the problems that lie ahead.