PROPOSED LOANS AT SUMNER

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22195, 11 September 1937, Page 4

PROPOSED LOANS AT SUMNER

PLANS SUBMITTED TO RATEPAYERS PROVISION OF ESSENTIAL SERVICES Ratepayers in Sumner and Redcliffs discussed the loan proposals affecting the borough's essential services at a special meeting convened by the Council, and held in the Sumner Town Hall last evening. The Mayor, Mr T. Newburgh, explained the proposed loans of £7400 for the Valley area sewerage, £2IOO for the Esplanade sewerage, £3900 for a water extension loan, and £6700 for a gas loan. He said that two years ago the council recognised the necessity of making many alterations and improvements in the borough. Sumner's trouble was want of population, and the only way to encourage people to live in the borough was to make Sumner the clean and happy place that it should be. He desired to acknowledge the expert knowledge freely given by Mr F W J. Belton, of the Christchurch Gas Company, and Mr J. Cullen, the Christchurch Drainage Board Engineer By their help the total cost of preparing the various proposals would be not more than £25. Mr Newburgh dealt first with the proposal to borrow £2IOO for Improvements to the sewer on the Esplanade. He explained that a proposed layout would do away with the comparatively inefficient septic tanks in each of the streets running out on the Esplanade. The new plan would provide a good fall to Scarborough, whence the sewage would be pumped to deep water off Whitewash Heads. The Government was very anxious to get work of this nature under way and, over all the loan proposals, the Government would make a contribution of £4OOO. This loan of £2IOO would not cost the ratepayers anything. The interest and sinking fund would cost £l3O a year, and this would more than be saved because the borough would save the wages of a man who at present was engaged for at least two days in the week on sewerage work. Need for Water Supply Explaining the proposal to raise £3900 for a water extension loan, Mr Newburgh said that there could not be an efficient sewerage scheme without a sufficiency of water. Residents in various parts of the borough, and especially in the Valley area, were handicapped in the hot weather through lack of water amounting in some cases to a complete cessation of the supply. The average amount of water consumed on a hot day amounted to 125 gallons a head, and it was obvious that a large amount was being wasted on gardens. The installation of meters had checked this excessive consumption, but only by a loan Could an efficient service be given. The pressure aimed at was sufficient to put a stream of water over a two-storeyed house. The Canterbury Underwriters Association had indicated a rise in insurance premiums unless the present position improved. . To pay the interest and sinking fund on the water supply loan would cost £195 a year, and this could be paid out of the water rate, which would probably be reduced in the next U months. Dealing with the gas loan, Mr Newburgh said that £6700 was required. He thought that at present there would not be one satisfied consumer in the borough. The borough had an efficient gasworks which had been starved for want of money, and even in its present state it was paying its way He was convinced that the gasworks would pay handsomely if it could deliver the goods. New retorts were required at the works, which otherwise were in good order but he Invited those present to judge tor themselves the condition of the mains and handed round a sample piece taken from a main which had been in use for 14 years at Redcliffs This niece had rusted completely through and one side was completely eaten away for several inches. The cost of the loan (interest and sinking fund) would be £368 10s and if the unaccounted-for gas could be reduced by even only 5 per cent. (it amounted to 131 per cent, at Present) this would mean a saving of £250. The balance could easily be saved py the saving in the cost of the men who at present were constantly attending to the many complaints. Sewerage Scheme The sewerage scheme for the valley area would cost £7400, continued Mr Newburgh. There were many valid reasons why the reticulation should be put in, but one of the most pressing was the threat of the Health Department that if the scheme were not put in it would compel the council to do so by special legislation. This was the only case where it was proposed to levy a rate which, at 5.9 d on an average building section of a value of £75, would be £1 17s a year. When it was remembered that at present there was a sanitation rate of £ljs 6d which would then be cancelled, he did not think that anyone could reasonably object to an extra 15s 6d a year for an efficient service Questions Answered At Mr Newburgh's invitation many questions were asked by ratepayers. He assured one questioner that the estimated saving of £l5O in wages of the man attending to the Esplanade sewer would not mean a loss of employment for him. He,would merely be engaged on more important work elsewhere. A resident of the valley area suggested that the council proposed to connect its own houses in that portion of the borough at the expense of the remainder who lived there', and that the Government would also be freed of any expense by connecting the School for the Deaf. Mr Newburgh said that the council owned three houses in that district out of 90, and it was true that they would be exempt by law. It was quite untrue, However, that the Government was escaping liability; it would only be connected by a capital payment of £SOO. Tributes to the work of the council and its officers for the tremendous amount of time and patience display ,1 in preparing the estimates were paid by several speakers, and Mr Newburgh was thanked and congratulated for the way in which he had explained the proposals. INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS ♦ BRITISH ASSOCIATION'S INTENTIONS (BRITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, September 9. Commenting on the decision of the British Association, which ended its meeting at Nottingham yester.day, to send a delegation to the Indian Science Congress in December, Professor Allan Ferguson, one of the general secretaries, said that in future the association might make international contacts by sending delegations to foreign countries, and this might make a special contribution towards world peace. They were in communication with the American Association and hoped to strengthen bonds between the two societies- ~