VITAL TO DISTRICT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 173, 24 July 1930, Page 9

VITAL TO DISTRICT.

MT. ROSKILL LOAN SCHEME.

SUPPORTED BY RATEPAYERS.

PROSPECT OF TRAM SERVICE

The proposal of the Mount Roakill Road Board to pave Three Kings Road with concrete was heartily approved last night at a meeting of ratepayers held in the Methodist Hall, Epsom.

The chairman or the Road Board, Mr. E. F. Jones, who presided, said the board wanted the sanction of tlie ratepayers of Mount Roskill to boiiovv £17,000. This amount was the estimated cost of laying two strips of concrete in Three Kings Road 13ft Tin wide for a distance of 01 chains, with two footpaths 10ft wide, and an Sin water main on one side of the road and a 4in main on the other side, leaving a space of ISft lOiu on the centre of the road for the new tramway. The loan would be for a period of 20 years, bearing interest at 5J per cent per annum, and a sinking fund of 3 per cent. Many advantages would accrue to the district, said Mr. Jones, by concreting this important thoroughfare, which extended from Landscape Road, at the boundary of Mount Eden, to Mount Albert Roacl, near the Veterans' Home. Savings in Transport Costs. The success of the poll was \ital to the district, said Mr. Jones, and it would advance that portion of Mount Roskill, as the extension of the tra/i service on Dominion Road had advanced the other end. Again, if the loan were carried and Three Kings Road concreted, the tram service would be extended from Landscape Road to Mount Albert Road. That would mean a great saving in tram fares. People who were now paying 5/G per week for the bus seivice would be able to travel to the city by the trams on working men's tickets at 3/9 per week. That alone would mean a saving of over £4 a year.

The rate required to meet interest and sinking fund would amount to 3/2 in £100 valuation on unimproved rating, provided the whole amount is raised. The extra rate, however, would be outweighed by the saving to the district of £.->OO to £000 per annum, which in the j r-'t l-t'4 been the average cost for that i !. hi support ot' this statement,

the Road Board had found that the average yearly cost of maintaining the macadam roa.ding of Dominion Road under their jurisdiction, had been equal to the present annual charge for intereat and sinking fund on the loan raised for concreting Dominion Road. The saving ®thus •. effected in Three Kings Road would provide; the cost for tar sealing .of one residential street in the district each year.

Through transport facilities .to Mount Albert Road would only be provided subject to Three Kings. Road being-laid down in permanent material. 1 Statement by Mr. Allum. Mr. J. A. C. Allum, who was present at the request of the Road Board, said the Auck land' Transport Board could not extend the tramway from Mount Eden terminus to Mount Albert Road in the present state of Three Kings Road. The present extension in Mount Eden to .the boundary would be completed next October and it would be continued along Three Kings Road to. Mount Albert Road if the loan proposal was sanctioned by the ratepayers. The Transport Board proposed to spend £23,000 011 the track through Three Kings Road. That would provide work for a large number of men now unemployed. Mr. J. Dawson said that he. had inserted a clause in the specifications that as far as possible local labour should be employed in doing the work. Mr. Charles Walker supported the proposal and after the chairman had answered several questions, the meeting adopted a resolution to support the scheme, and also the extension of. the tram service to Avondale.