CITY TRAM TRACKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 260, 3 November 1931, Page 3

CITY TRAM TRACKS.

RECONSTRUCTION SCHEME. USE OF UNEMPLOYED. PROPOSAL TO RAISE £20,000.

Reconstruction work on the tram-nay tracks under the No. 5 unemployment scheme was the subject of a report made by Mr. J. A. C. Allum to the Auckland Transport Board this morning.

In accordance with the wishes of the board, said the chairman, the suggestion had been made to the Minister in charge of unemployment that the. Government should advance to the board the sum of £20,000 to enable the track reconstruction work by relief labour to continue. The proposal, however, did not appear practicable, and it had been suggested as an alternative that the board be authorised to raise £20,000 by way of special bank overdraft, and that could be done. The board could take action, cither under the provisions of the Local Authorities Empowering (Relief of Unemployment) Act, or under scction 50 of its own Act. In any case he was assured that the necessary authority would be granted, and he was further advised that there was no doubt that the board's bankers would provide the necessary funds.

Mr. Allum produced two schedules, the first showing works that could be completed by the end of the financial year (March 31) and the second works that could be completed by December 24. The total cofit to the 'board for works to be carried out before the end of March would be £20,970. The Government contribution iby way of labour would be £12,045, so that the total value of the works would be £33,015.

If the board authorised either of the schedules, said Mr. Allum, the deficicncy at the end of the year woukl be increased by one-eighth of either of the sums mentioned as being the cost to the board. He 'believed that the board's wish was, if possible, to continue the men in employment and therefore instructions had been given that the men were to be retained in employment until the board could decide its policy.

ilr. H. R. Potter said that the work would have to be considered as maintenance and not as capital expenditure.

The proposal, Mr. Allum stressed, woukl in no way interfere with the board's other financial arrangements.

It was eventually decided that the report should be received and referred to the finance committee, and that, in the meantime, works mentioned in the second schedule should be authorised.