LOAN SHELVED

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20915, 21 September 1939, Page 2

LOAN SHELVED

BOROUGH IMPROVEMENTS TIME NOT OPPORTUNE 'Special to Times) CAMBRIDGE. Thursday The monthly meeting of the Cambridge Borough Council was held last night. There were present the Mayor, Mr Edgar James. Messrs A. H. Nicoll, M. Wells. \V. R. Garrard. K. L. Wilkinson. N. R. Souter and W. Moore. The Town Clerk Mr F. T. Ray), the engineer (Mr W. McK. Jeffrey and fhp gasworks manager Mr F. H. Green were also in attendance. The mayor said he was afraid they would have to shelve their £23.000 streets and general improvements loan for the time being, at least, and perhaps for the duration of the war. There was no chance of getting subsidised labour. The Government has just passed its small farms scheme and this scheme of land improvements and production would absorb all labour available. The council would have to back-pedal with its scheme. He could not sec that they would be justified in going to the ratepayers at present for a £23.000 loan. They had a stiff enough task to meet with war emergency efforts apart from ordinary taxation. For these reasons he and the committee had done nothing further. The council*was in agreement with the mayor’s views, and it was decided to defer negotiations for the loan for two months. Killing on Sundays The Department of Agriculture wrote regarding killing on Sundays at the abbattoir and said it was not a general practice, except where there were not, adequate cooling facilities. The department asked of an explanation as to why the council continued to allow Sunday killings at its works. The abattoir manager said he had continued to kill on Sundays so 'as to co-operate with stock supplies and the local butchers. During eight months of the year it was almost essential to kill on Sundays if meat was to be supplied consumers in the best possible condition. It was decided to advise the department that the Sunday killing was being continued to meet the butchers and in order to serve the public with meat in the best possible condition. The Cambridge Girl Guides were granted permission to hold a Paddy’s Market on November 24. Widening of Duke Street The Public Works Department wrote again concerning the widening of Duke Street and stated it was understood the council had completed arrangements in respect of the purchase of land and buildings, and setting back the boundaries. However, it was understood, in respect of land acquisition and building alterations the borough had made no claim on the Highways Board for assistance. The board,wag.prepared to grant a £2 for subsidy in respect of the footpath involved in the proposals estimated to cost £532 ids. and including, in addition. kirbing and channelling in this special case.* The widening of the road, apart from the footpath work, was the board’s concern. It was suggested that the width of the footpath be reduced from 12--£eet .to 10 feet. The mayor said it would appear that the board did not expect to provide towards compensation, though fhe department’s letter did state that the matter of the Land Purchase Officer assisting with the land compensation would be taken up and the council would be advised in this connection later. In regard to the footpath, the council decided to advise the department that it preferred to adhere to the original scheme. In regard to the council's request to the Main Highways Board to continue the footpath in Diuke Street, from Williamson Street to Dominion Avenue, approximately three chains, referred to the effect that It had already met the council in other improvements outside the scope of the work originally intended, and regretted it could not accede to the request. Engineer’s Report The engineer’s report showed that the past month had been an exceptionally busy one with improvements to streets, roads and footpaths in several parts of the borough. The road in Alpha Street East extension to a dead end had been roughly reformed to given access to the houses in this part. An access road had been formed and laid into Mr A. E. Baker’s property off William Street.