RESERVES LOAN OF £120,000

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26025, 31 January 1950, Page 3

RESERVES LOAN OF £120,000

APPLICATION to be made to board

OBJECTIONS RECEIVED FROM RATEPAYERS a decision to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for its sanction to the raisin? of a loan of £120,000 tor reserves extensions and improvements was made by the City Council last evening. The finance committee authorised the employment of outside professional distance to the council’s staff to enZ,™ that the plans required by the ;„ an Board for works under the loan Lould be available as early as possible. The schedule of works proposed was ES follows: , Abberley Park.—Playground equipment and paddling polo, £1300; alterations and improvements to grounds, £3OO- caretakers residence, £lBOO Avebury Park.—Playground equipment and paddling pool, £l4OO. Burwood Park.—Water supply for nark, public conveniences, and formain of cricket pitches, £5OO-£4OOO. English Park.—Piping of drain to nrovSe better facilities for recreation -nd sP° rt - £2o(, u; construction of public navilion and gymnasium. £6OOO. Hillsborough Park.—Drainage of park and improvements to sports fields, £ pjynlimon Reserve.—Design and reconstruction of reserve as a public nark and recreation ground. £l3OO Risingholme Park.—Bridge, £7OO St Martins Park.—Drainage of and construction of park, £lOOO. Lyttelton Street Reserve.—Design and construction of park, including pathways, playing fields, water supply arid running track, £5000; caretaker’s residence, pavilion, and public conveniences, £4OOO. Spreydon Domain.—Subsidy on eports pavilion and gymnasium, £BOO Waltham Park.—Subsidy on sports pavilion and gymnasium. £800; relevJlling of sports field, £5OO. Woodham Park.—Paddling pool and tolayground equipment, £l3OO Maygrounds.—Construction o f and reuipment for Radley street, Harrison Street Pitcairn street Harewood road, fcnd other reserves, £l2OO. New Brighton Reserves Sandhills and beaches. North Beach to South New Brighton: stabilisation of tandhills and improvements to beaches (£7000; bathing pavilions, £BOOO. ’ Rawhiti Domain.—Motorists' and holiday camping ground. £5000; alterations to and extension of golf links (£800: alterations to and extensions of [pavilion, £2500: additional sports ’grounds and recreation grounds, 162000; subsidy on sports pavilion’ [£800: public tennis courts, £l2OO- - equipment. £3OO. Pleasant Point Park.—Provision of ports fields and walks, £ 1500; general Srnprovements. £5OO. Jellicoe Park.—Motorists’ and holiday camping ground, £500; provision taeX I £sW el £5OT' d general im P™ve-

Sumner and Redcliffs St. Leonards Park.—lmprovements io playing field, £500; improvements Jo camping ground. £lOO. Redcliffs Park.—Purchase of adjoining land, £200; improvements to playing fields, £250. Mount Plcasant.—Subsidy on community haU, £1000; design and' con- °* grounds surrounding haU,

Quarry Reserve.—Development of reserve for children’s playground r.nd endoseo games. £1000; playground £300; public conveniences,

Scott Reserve.—Completion of gen±I d % I §non £300; u?? mpletion of sea £2000; public conveniences, £3OO.

Bathing Pavilion, Sumner.—£6ooo. General Reserves Department Depot, Linwood.—Caretaker’s residence, £lBOO. Development of land for future parks in Mairehau and Marshland districts: £5500.

Purchase of land for future parks and development of same for recreation purposes: £21,850. Purchase of equipment for mainten£3ooo recreation areas: Contingencies: £5OOO. ‘Rates Teo High” Six objections to the raising of the loan were received. Two, signed by £. B. and S. Banks, contended that there were enough parks in the city and that rates were already too high, especially for those living on a retiring income.

The other objectors were Messrs W. Carey, Daniel Reese, R. Maddren, and R. Simes, who wrote in identical terms. The objectors stated that they were ratepayers of the city as well as of the Cashmere riding of the Heathcote County. On the portion of the loan to be applied for the purchase of land for a park in Cashmere, the objectors said that the land was outside the control of the City Council. On principle, the writers objected to the raising of loans without a poll of electors unless for urgent matters such as public health and the relief of unemployment. ’Hie objectors complained that the potice calling for objections was “of the meagrest and most fragmentary nature.”

“This is not to create new reserves, but mainly to bring the reserves we have up to date and to put them in good order and repair,” said Cr. J. N. Clarke, chairman of the reserves committee. “I cannot understand why ®nyone should object.” Cr. C. D. W. L. Sheppard said that •the proposals were clearly in the injterests of public health, as they dealt recreation, drainage, conveni'ences, and bathing. The Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews) said (Christchurch had the lowest loan in-

debtedness of any city in New Zealand.

If the details of the proposals were publicised, he did not think there would be any objections, said Cr. G. Manning.

“Are we getting the proper priority?” asked Cr L. G. Amos, who said that there were more important works such as channelling, reading, bridging, and parking facilities. “Some of these proposals are absolutely urgent for our centennial,” said the Mayor. “We spend infinitely less with greater benefit than they do in Wellington,” said Cr. J. L. Hay. He agreed that it should be a capital cost and not a cost on the present ratepayers.