The Daily News. MONDAY, MAY 10, 1920. BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSALS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, MAY 10, 1920. BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSALS.

: The time has arrived when urgent works for improving the borough of New Plymouth and advancing its expansion and prosperity can i no longer be delayed. The Bor- ! ough Council has faced the problem in a business-like and progressive spirit, and its expert advisers have prepared estimates of the expenditure necessary to carry out the absolutely essential works which they consider should be taken in hand in the interests of the residents and visitors. The fullest information has been put before ratepayers concerning the object and details for which the total outlay is estimated at £129,000, consisting of £72,000 for electric light, and power extension, and £57,000 for street improvements, labor-saving plant, watermain renewals and extensions, and small extensions of the sewers, together with minor works essential to the welfare of the people. These two proposals are to be voted upon next Wednesday by the ratepayers, and on their verdict will depend whether the borough is to be brought up to date and placed on a satisfactory footing, or allowed to stagnate and pay a heavy penalty in the near future for the largely enhanced cost due to delay. The work scheduled has to be done; it urgently needs execution at the earliest possible moment, and unless carried out now will not only militate against the most desirable class of settlers being attracted to the town, but will be a standing stigma on the good sense and publie spirit of the people. With regard to the electric light loan of £72,000 it may be taken for granted that it will be carried practically unanimously, for the very good reason that it is a particularly good paying proposition. On the restricted and insufficient service now available a profit of about £6500 was made in the year ending March 31 last, and it is estimated that by-providing an additional 2000 h.p. (making a total of 3000 h.p. available) the probable profits will amount to £13,800. | There are afew points in connection with this proposal that the ratepayers may well bear in mind. I They have never been called upon ! to pay any rate in respect of the j borough's electricity business, and they may rest assured the new loan will not burden them with any cost, but will give an impetus towards developing the town and adding to its attractiveness. The present position is that the plant is working to its utmost capacity, there not only being no margin to come and go on in the case of a breakdown, but a considerable number of residents are unable to be supplied with current, and are suffering great inconvenience inconsequence. It is unthinkable that such a proved paying assei should not commend itself to the ratepayers, and we feel justified in confidently relying on their perspicacity impelling them to vote whole-heartedly for the loan. The money required for street and other improvements is on a somewhat different footing, inasmuch as it is Dot directly revenue producing, except as to water main and sewer extensions. Good roads and footpaths are essential and the residents derive a direct benefit therefrom. Moreover, it must br remembered that'' money saved is money gained." so that by putting the roads and footpaths in good permanent condition the endless expense and waste of continual patching is avoided, besides which \ the purchase of labor-saving plant will be a valuable asset in materially reducing the cost of work now and in the future. The £ll,1 225 set down for plant, etc, is one ' of the most businesslike proposals ' ever made by the Council, and should repay its cost many fold. In his printed statement to the ratepayers, this Mayor emphasises

that it costs more money per annum to maintain, bad roads than good roads. The argument is irrefutable. By means of the new plant proposed, the roads and footpaths can bo put into good order and properly maintained at a great saving of time and expense, and the borough can be made worthy of being the chief town in the province. ■ Without the loan money, the state of the streets must grow rapidly worse and entail heavy annual charges that would fall on the ratepayers and still leave the permanent work to be done. The short-sightedness of such a deplorable policy is too obvious to need comment. The danger of the water supply .being cut off owing to worn out mains is one that must be avoided at all costs. Every defect means breaking up the tar-sealed the less of this the better. ' The only safe course is to provide new mains, and these should be. put down before the roads and paths are tarsealed wherever possible. The money allocated for sewer work is mostly for surveys and plans. A general extension of sewerage is urgently required to make the borough as sanitary as it should be, and it is. to be hoped the work will be carried out in the very near future. . As the cost of raising, the loans and the first year's interest thereon is paid out of capital, it will leave the rates free for 1 other work not included in the present proposals. We cannot too strongly urge the ratepayers, in their own interest, and in that of the borough to vote for both loans, and thereby help in a work that is destined to be of paramount importance. New Plymouth needs the facilities that the loan money will provide, and will suffer if it is not provided. The matter rests with the ratepayers. It is for them to make or mar the future of New Plymouth.