PUBLIC CONVENIENCES.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 March 1922, Page 5

PUBLIC CONVENIENCES.

URGENT REQUIREMENTS. QUESTION OF FINANCE. “This question has been before the council twice during the month, and it is generally recognised that the provision of conveniences is an urgent public necessity,, states the monthly report of the borougn general manager in referring to the matter of erecting public conveniences in New Plymouth. He continues: “The sum of £2OOO is provided in the £57,000 loan to cover the cost of the work, but as the interest on this loan is restricted to 5£ per cent, the money cannot be raised. The council made application for permission to increase the rate of interest on the hydro-electric loans, and also on the tramways loan of £22,500, and were informed that permission to increase the rate of interest would only lie granted in respect of the construction of urgent and important public works. Under the circumstances it was recognised that at the time any application for permission to increase the rate on interest upon the £57,000 loan and the tramways loan would be futile. The council, therefore, decided to confine its efforts to obtaining permission to increase the rate of interest upon the hydro-electric loans, and this permission was subsequently obtained. “Circumstances, however, have changed since, and it may be possible to obtain permission to increase the rate of interest upon the £2OOO required for the erection of the public conveniences. There is no question as to their urgency, and they are certainly important from the point of view of public health. I would therefore recommend that an effort be made to obtain such permission.”