BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1918, Page 7

BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSALS.

SUPPORT BY REPRESENTATIVE citizens. "" A conference was held on Tuesday night a(. the New Plymouth Borough Council Chamber, between members of '.he Council a.".d members of iho Taranaki Employer--.' Association and Chamber of Commerce for the purpose of discussing ll;» intentions of the Couwil in regard to the proposed loan for streets improvement and electrical light una power extension. His Worship the Mayor presided and there were present: Messrs A. McHardy, R. J. Deare, J. Pa ton. F. S. Johns. P. J. White, W. F. Brooking, J. W. Haydeu, L. A. Nolan, VY. C. Weston, C. Carter, T. Avery, T. C. Morey. H. Cocker. I). K. Morrison, and the Town Clerk (Mr F. T. Bcllringeri. Borough Engineer (Mr W. H. Cook) and the Electrical Engineer (Mr R. H. Bartley.) The chairman expressed his pleasure at meeting the gentlemen present to consider ifce Council's loan proposals. Mr W. F. Brooking, President, of the Employers' Association, said it was felt that the ratepayers had not fully understood the issues when the streets loan proposal was previously before them, and he thought that some particulars of what the loan was for and how it. was to be raised should be given. There was also in view the loan for the extension of the electrical power system, of whic-it they; would like to hear some particulars. The Mayor then outlined the Councils policy, which was to get away from the continuous patching process which had been going on for so long, and to adopt a scheme by means of which some sort oft permanent roadway could be put down. The Council had adopted the tarsealing system, but in order to carry it out more money than was available from revenue was required, and it was necessary to raise a, loan. The Mayor said he was not going to discuss as to whether the Greater New Plymouth was t. wise step or not, hut it had thrown on to the borough considerably more responsibility, and as a consequence it had feeen necessary to metal certain roads in the outer area which would cost approximately about £3500, and to tar themwould cost a further £ISOO to £I7OO. The Mayor referred to the extraordinary expenditure from revenue during the past year, which had included the purchase of the electric bus, a motor lorry, and a tar-spraving machine. The first was for the convenience of ratepayers and the others were necessary if the Council was to carry on its work efficiently and economically. t He thought the opinion that the ratepayers had turned the loan down for want of confidence that the money would be well spent, amounted to the ratepayers punishing themselves unnecessarily. Some discussion followed, in the course of which various reasons were assigned for the rejection of the loan at the last poll, and it was agreed that steps should be taken to secure the carrying of the proposal at the next poll. Ultimately the following motion lyas moved by Mr Brooking—"That this meeting, having heard the Mayor and the Borough Engineer, on the question of the streets requirements are perfectly satisfied that no Council can form and keep the streets in order in Greater New Plymouth out of the ordinary revenue of the Council, and pledge themselves to support the proposed loan of £IO,OOO for tiiat purpose." The motion was -seconded by Mr F S. Johns, and carried unanimously. The Mayor, in. thanking iho meeting for its pledge of support, expressed the hope that the ratepayers would take the t same view as those present had done. The electrical engineer ("Mr Bartlc,') then explained by means of a big diagram map, the scheme for the extension of the council's electrical development plant, showing the course of the growl ii of the load developed by the power station, in the course of his explanation Mr Bartley stated that the station was at present supplying within 40 h.p. ot' the full load it was capable of, and that there were at present applications in hand for current which would take up all they were able to give at the completion of the first portion of the proposed scheme. The extension was necessary, as at present, if anything happened to the present water supply the system would come to a standstill, whereas; under the new scheme, if a block occurred in the tunnel, there would be a storage of water, sufficient to maintain a lull load for eight 'hours or a fmailer load for a correspondingly longer time. He said there was no possibility of any of the work having to be scrapped in the event of, or when, the Government scheme came along. At the conclusion of the explanation Mr Bartley was accorded a vote of thanks, and the meeting pledged its approval of the scheme and support of the loan proposal

On the motion of Mr Carter, seconded by Mr Brooking, it was resolved that those present should form ihemselves into a committee t;> assist the Oouwiil to «et the loan carried. Mr Brooking w*s appointed convenor. Mr Joli?:' expressed the appreciation of these present, of the action of the Council in putting the incites before them and a vote of thar.'a». wis tarried with acclamation.