PARNELL AND PROGRESS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 115, 14 May 1912, Page 9

PARNELL AND PROGRESS.

BIAYOR'S PROGRAMME FOR TEAR. GOOD ROADS FOR THE BOROUGH. A MAN NECESSARY. In his inaugural address upon entering on hi; fourth term as Mayor of pTrnell last night. Mr. R. S. Briggs remarked that he had been in the past opposed to borrowing. But it was given to every man to change his mind, he said, and in this matter of borrowing he had been obliged to modify his own view? somewhat. He trusted, however, that he would receive the same hearty support from the Councillors in the future as he had in the past, as they all had the welfare and advancement of the borough at heart. I Proceeding, he said: "As .- number j of ratepayer; have represented that the progress made in improving the streets and roads of the borough, as at present carried out by expenditure provided by the annual rates, is totally inadequate to meet the increasing requirements of the borough, and as other necessary im-

provements are greatly required. I am of opinion that the time has arrived ■when the Council should ask the ratepayers to consent to a loan sufficient to make large improvements in the streets, and also to provide funds sufficient to erect a library and reading room upon the excellent site in Mann" kau-road, dedicated by the Government for the purpose. The want of adequate provision for sal: water bathing has been a reproach to the borough for many years. From its close proximity to its many beaches, this borough possesses unrivalled facilities for salt vater bathing, only requiring the means to t-e provided to make them available. The provision of a number of latrines is also urgently required in various parts of the borough. Our public reserves at Campbell Point. Point Resolution and Hobson Bay, each of them unrivalled for position and the exquisite views to be obtained from them, require some expenditure to make them

still more -convenient and attractive both to the residents and visitor?. "Considering that the loans hithertc raised in the borough have been wholh expended in providing for drainage anc water supply, and that nothing ha . been raised for street improvements and looking forward to the short time when the improvements now bein" earned out by the Harbour Board in St. George's Bay-road will demand increased facilities to accommodate thtraffic which must necessarily ensue I think the Council may with confidence appeal to the ratepayers to support it in borrowing such a sum as will put all the streets in thorough good order " Later .ie moved.- "That the engineer be requested to prepare plans and estimates of the cost for putting all the streets m the borough on a permanent and satisfactory basis " several ° the Councillors congratulated the Mayor on the progressive spirit he had displayed in his policy proposals for the coming year, ana the motion was carried unanimously.