GOING AHEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 204, 29 August 1935, Page 10

GOING AHEAD.

MAYOR'S ASSURANCE. UNEMPLOYMENT SUBSIDY. — t BEQUEST TO BE MADE. Having read the statement of the deputy-chairman of the Unemployment Board, Mr. Walter Bromley, reported in last night's "Star," the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board decided last uight to ask the Unemployment Board at once what assistance it will give to enable the construction work of the comprehensive drainage scheme 'to be started. "We can point out that we are definitely undertaking this work —the delay is only to consider details," said the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, Mr. Bromley, when questioned by the "Star" reporter in Wellington concerning the possibility of an unemployment subsidy being granted for a comprehensive drainage scheme in Auckland, said the board was looking very favourably on such, works as a means of asborbing employable men on full time. Heknew the question was under consideration in Auckland, but no definite approach had been made to the Unemployment Board. It was only by adopting schemes such as Auckland proposed that employable men could be reabsorbed. What was necessary was a quick decision on the part of those proposing such schemes. , Grasping the Opportunity. The matter was introduced at last night's meeting by Mr. F. E. Lark, who said that there were 7000 unemployed walking the streets in Auckland, and they would be waiting anxiously to hear if the board would have "sufficient good sense" to take advantage of the opportunity that was offering, which might return some of them to full-time employment. If the board deferred decision on the subject it might lose the opportunity. He vraM confident that if representations were made in Wellington, in the light of the statement made in the "Star," the Unemployment Board would consider favourably anything they askedfor that should set the scheme in operation. Mr. Davis thanked Mr. Lark for his suggestion. He had intended proposing similar action himself. Mr. Bromley had urged the need for prompt action and they could give the assurance that the work would be undertaken. The board would be communicated with at once. Objection to Delay. A motion by Mr. Bernard Martin that the special meeting -necessary should not be postponed for longer than six weeks led to a brisk argument between Messrs. II J. Goldstine (One Tree Hill) and CM. McCullough (Mount Roskill) and other members of the board on the question of delay. "I am a trifle disappointed. Why defer consideration of the comprehensive scheme?" asked Mr. J. S. Stewart. Now that they had taken an option on Motukorea (Brown's) Island, why not make that the starting point in putting the whole scheme into operation? He would like to see the matter precipitated. "The board will be out of power before we do anything," said Mr. W. T: Anderton, and he was supported by Mr. A. Eosser, who said that the question had been in the air so long that they, were likely to be accused of palter. ing with it. They should showthe public that they were in earnest. Mr. MK3ullough urged members to be reasonable. The local bodies wanted to know to what they were committed, and time to discuss it. Mr. Martin: Well, you have had four years to think about it. "Hold-up by Few Boroughs." From a babble of heated voices was heard the word "typhoid," and Mr. Goldstine's "Well, it's been asked for and now you are going to get it." He was rising to his feet, but Mr. Stewart had the floor. He declared that Meesrs. Goldetine and McCullough had been Mayors of their respective boroughs far some time and they should know the position. If they had considered their civic duty they would have called meetings of their ratepayers long ago and settled their, position. The hold-up of the scheme was coming from a few small boroughs. The majority of the board favoured the scheme, and they should go ahead with it. Mr. Goldetine and the other objectors would have to reconcile themselves to it, and not merely consider their own desires. Mr. Goldstine represented the borough which was nearest to the "open cess-pool" at Ellerslie and it was affecting his area. The city was in danger of an epidemic at any time. They all knew the danger of the many outfalls in their present position. The sooner that Brown's Island was in operation the better it would be for everybody. Mr. Goldstine's Statement. There had been statements made that nothing had been done, said Mr. Goldstine. He would draw the attention of the board to the fact that 19 months ago his council had asked for information as to what the scheme would cost

the ratepayers. They were still waiting for that information and until they got it they would not agree to anything. Some of those who were bo keen to go blindly into the scheme were not even ratepayers, said Mr. Goldstine, but at the request of the Mayor he withdrew the remark.

"Until I am in possession of the cost of the scheme I am not prepared to recommend it to the ratepayers," Mr. Goldstino added. It should not be difficult to give the required figures, and Mr. Watkins (the board's engineer) admitted that he had had their request 18 months before. His reply was that ho was still compiling the figures. The boroughs were entitled to the information, and, he wanted to know how much longer ifc would be before they would receive it.

"Mr. Stewart has stated that ray particular district is affected by the conditions at Ellerslie," said Mr. Goldstine. "That is definitely not the position. It has not affected ne in any shaj>e or form. That statement was made without knowledge."

"Every district is affected by Ellerslie," interjected Mr. B. J. Phelan.

''So far as Ellerslie is concerned this is the position ..." began Mr. Goldetine heatedly, but was called to order by the Mayor, who pointed out that Ellerslie was not the subject |under consideration.

Mr. Goldstine: These things have a habit of getting into the Press. Mr. Stewart was allowed to state these 'things and I have a right to combat them.

With all due respect to the Mayor of One Tree Hill, said Mr. Phelan, it should lie understood that until such things as the purchase price of Brown's Island had been settled he could not be given accurate figures of the costs over the whole area. Engineer's Explanation. Mr. Watkins explained that though the One Tree Hill Borough Council had asked for information eighteen months ago it should be remembered that the scheme had been in abeyance for a year. Several of One Tree Hill's questions were answered in his comprehensive report, and to answer the others he had to have some knowledge of how the board was going to proceed with the scheme. Until these things we'-e discussed he could not give estimated annual costing for 14 years ahead. "I don't take a small view of the scheme," .said Mr. T. McNab (Mount Eden). "Personally I don't care what it costs. ("Are you reporting that?" called Mi , . Goldetine to the Press bench). We have got to think of Auckland as a, whole." "Is that the view of your council?" asked Mr. Goldstine. "Excepting one member," said Mr. McNab. "When it conies to a question between an engineer and a layman, personally I'm going to take the advice of the engineer," said a member. After a short discussion between the Mayor and Mr. Martin, Mr. Davis said that Mr. Martin was not pushing his motion that the special meeting should be called in six weeks. It would therefore be held over for three months. He would, however, keep in touch with the engineer and would call the meeting as soon as possible. A further discussion as to the appointment' of an assistant engineerwas referred to a committee for decision.