WESTOWN REQUIREMENTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1916, Page 4

WESTOWN REQUIREMENTS.

STROXG DEPUTATION TO THE COUNCIL..

A deputation comprising some fifty ratepayers of the district extending from Standish Hill to Westown waited on the Borough Council last night to place before the Council matters of importance and urgency to the district concerned. Messrs J. D. Sole (president "of the Westown Improvement Society), .las. Clarke and F. S. Johns were the spokesmen.

■Mr. Clarke strongly urged the extension of the Morley street tram-line for a distance of 70 chains towards Westovyn! While the deputation, did nqta.sk the Council, at the present stage, for any new extension of the tram service, he pointed out that tiie. tram already ran a distance of 40 chains to" Morley street, and could be extended, and produce considerable extra revenue, at a very little additional cost of running. It was a deputation representing the whole district, the people of which recognised the advantages of the trams. From Standish street to Morley street, a distance of 15 chains, there were 38 houses; to Belt road, a further 30 chains, there were 37 houses; in the next 15 chains, to David street, there were 33 houses; and on the next miles there were 05 houses, a total of 173 houses. At a low estimate, this gave a population of 692, and, in addition, there was the hospital staff of 53, and the stall' and patients at the Old People' ''• me (44), making a total of 789. .... i,,e>e people could be served by an extra 70 chains of tramline. The extra cost of laying 35 chains to the top of Morley street (and including interest) would be 28g per diem, and at a conservative estimate the revenue would be £3, leaving £1 12s" extra towards any deficit on the present Morley street section. If seventy chains were laid and a 2d section made, a, profit of £2 4s per day could be shown as a very conservative estimate. He had not included other revenue-producing items, such as Western Park, the hovtU ing green, golf links and hospital, where, at a conservative estimate, there were 500 visitors a week. Councillors must recognise that the extra cost would be small, when compared with the revenue, which would show a good margin over interest and working expenses.

Cr. Watkins asked if the committee. was prepared to guavantee any loss. ■

Mr. Clarke sad that it would be difficult to assess the loss, as part of the section was already in operation. He could safely promise that the Westown district would be prepared to guarantee £2 IBs per day, this being the working expenses and interest on the 70 chains from Morley street to David street.

The Mayor said that it was a question ot finding the irmney, Mr. F. S. Johns dwelt on the question of the non-expenditure of the loan money which had been granted two years ago. There was an item of £430, for StandIsh street, from Dawson street to. Wallace Place. He understood that the expenditure of this had been deferred because of the heavy traffic during the erection of the new hospital. This street was to have been soltarred, kerned and Hiannelled, and a dangerous bank on the opposite side was to have been removed to Fulford street. The work should be done.

Mr. J. D. Sole spoke on behalf of the merged portion of the Elliot road district. Wlieii the district merged into the Council the roads went from good to bad, and it had got worse. As a member of the Road Hoard, he could say that, nothwithstahdlMg that the cost of administration was 35 per cent., thoy could keep the road in much better order for half the revenue. Since they had iWevged not 20 per, cent, of the revenue had been expended on the roads. The •u.otpath had been made by tin* Elliot load Board, and was qtill the subject of

special rate. Not oile shovelful of screenings Irad been placed on this path, and after rain it was more like a canal tjmn a footpath. The road, too, had completely worn out. There was an arrangement that the contractor should repair the road. He did not blame the contractor, but the Council appeared easily satisfied. The perhaps, had Wen to blame by allowing other suburbs to get all they required. They were very thankful lor the privileges of street lights and the extension of'the water and electric light, but these were reproductive. They now asked for something to be done urgently, as there was a hole in Wallace Place big enough to bury a man.

The Mayor said that he would be quite happy if Westown were the only place that required expenditure. He 'was not prepared to make a statement regarding the loan money. He would have been able to give the information had the deputation been delayed till July, as requested. The Council would give weight to the requests of the deputation. Regarding the repairs required to the roads, a mistake had been made in taking over these outside districts. He understood that the outside districts had been taken over to provide an area large enough to guarantee the trains. Personally, he thought they would have boon better without the trams. He agreed that they were entitled to the expenditure on the roads, and no doubt riiey would get it in time. As regards the deferring of the work on Standish HiU, all the loan work had been deferred until the {ram route had been finished. This had just been conipleted, and the streets were now having consideration. The Council were hot idle, but they could not spend money when they did not have it. They would have a hard tussle to get through the year: There was always some unforeseen expenditure. This year there was an expenditure of nearly £IOOO in connection with the Waiwakaiho bridge, as' well as one' or two other matters.

Regarding tramway extension, there Was the question of money, though it might be a payable proposition. He considered that the Morley street section should never have been constructed. He fully sympathised with the deputation, and agreed that unless it was extended further it would not pay. The present time was not suitable to gp ori the market for money. There were other things required besides trams. He sympathised with the deputation, but, of course, it the Council decided to go in for a loan they could endeavor to get it,',but it would be advisable to defor it 'for srtujther year. Regarding the expenditure »jf loan money on Standisn street and Wallace Place, this would be considered when loan money was being expended, but lie could tell the deputfttion they would not get a tarred road. In the first place, there was bo tar to be procured, and, in the second place, there was no money available for tar. Mr. Sole considered that it would not be necessary to obtain a loan to extend the tram; it could be done out of overdraft. The Mayor said that he would not take the mn'onribilltj; of ertwdjjig the

trams without consulting the ratepayers. The ratepayers bb a whole had to ba considered. The Morloy street flection required extension, but it was no't justified at present. Regarding the roads, Westown and other roads required attention, and the Council was doing its best with the means at its disposal. •Mr. Sole tbunke'd the Mayor for the courteous hearing that was extended to the deputation. .