MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 3198, 26 May 1909, Page 5

MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

THE MAYOR MOVES FOK A LOAN.

THE MOTION CARRIED.

ON A CASTING VOTE.

At the meeting of the Borough: Council a fortnight ago th? Mayor r Mr Hollinga, moved in accordance with notice of motion given that the Borough Engineer prepare and present to the Council an estimate of the cost of completing the main, arterial roads, and footpaths in the Borough. The motion after a brief discussion in the Council was declared lost. The Mayor stated that meeting that it was not his intention to let the matter drop and gave formal notice of motion to revive the matter at the next Council meeting. In accordance with that promise His Worship moved at last night's meeting of the Council the following notice of motion, of which due notice had been given:—"That a poll of the ratepayers be taken on a proposal to borrow the sum of £12,000 for the construction and improvement of the roads and footpaths in the principal business and residential streets of the Borough." In speaking to the motion the Mayor said that his chief reason for moving in the direction he. had was that there were a number of streets and footpaths in almost the centre of the Borough that required immediate attention, viz., Dixon street* Bannister street, Worksop road, Albert street, Victoria street, Church; street, and all the central connecting: streets, abutting on the main street needed construction. If theße streets were properly made the outlay for maintenance would be very considerably less and good work of a permanent character would be the result. At present a considerable sum was being spent yearly la merely patching those thoroughfare® without any permanent result. The amount required to meet the Interest and sinking fund on the proposed loan would be 6 per cent., and wonltl only amount to £720, covering Interest and sinking fund, and he made a proviso to the effect that the interest and sinking fund should nafc exceed 6 per cent. He further stated that it was in the interests of the working men of the town that Borough works of an urgent nature should be proceeded with, S3 that the present depression should not fall unduly heavy on the working men who were mostly married men, whose homes were in Masterton, and whose dismissal he keenly regretted. He wanted to see the town progress and not stagnate. If tne ratepayers said no to the proposal then the responsibility was on their shoulders, and he hopad Councillors would recognise this. The proposal could be placed before the ratepayers in about five weeks* time, and there was no necessity to delay in the matter. Cr Pauling seconded the motion. Cr Ewington said he did not think the time was opportune for a loan, and pointed out that even if it were put to the ratepayer* th?*e was only a remoie chance of it b.'i g carried. Had the Mayor's nut in been one for improving the drainag® of the town he wcuid have supportfd it. He thought the roads were in a satisfactory condition, and wou.d compare favourably with any m New Zealand. In referring to the discharged Borough staff he said that it was unfortunate that they had been turned off at so short a notice. Had he known the action was to be so sudden h* would have favoured a "tapering off" of the expenditure of the money. Cr Yarr said it was absolutely impossible to carry on new works out of revenue, and the only other course as to raise a loan for the purpose. At the present time the rate proposed to be struck made no provision for any other work than the very smallest possible expenditure, oa road maintenance. It had been found necessary to dismiss a number of efficient workmen. When a large number of married men had to be discharged in the middle of one of the worst i winters experienced tor many years it was most unfortunate. If it were possible to support the raising of a 'loan, "which if carried, meant that the major portion of that money would go into the pockets of the working man in the shape of wages, then his vote wouldbe in favour of that loan. If the Council had intended dispensing with the men then they should have done so in the summer months when work was plentiful, instead of leaving it till the winter. Cr Elliott said it was not at al, a good time for a loan proposall and moreover the money market was not favourable for borrowing just now. He was strongly adverse to the Borough's over borrowing. It seemed to him that the cost of maintenance must go up instead of down. The Mayor here pointed out that with regard to draining the undrained portion of the toftn he nad aleady asked the Engineer to submit an estimate for the, work. The drainage question had had consideration for some time.

Or Temple asked why the town should be "bolstered-up" with loan money. The depression was general in New Zealand, and Mastetron was not the only phce affected. He expressed himself in favour of a drainage scheme. Cr Rigg also favoured a drainage proposal, and said that it was well known that the town was only half drained.

Cr Hoar said he did not think the town could stand any more burdens just now. He would suppori a drainace proposal. "The motion was then put, and on a division being asked for the voting showed:—Ayes: Crs Pauling, Pragnell, Yarr, Prentice and the Mayor. Nnes: Crs Elliott, Hoar. Ewington, Rigg and Temple. On the casting vote of the Mayor the motion was carried.