COUNCIL WILL ENCOURAGE SELF-HELP STREET SCHEMES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28253, 15 April 1957, Page 7

COUNCIL WILL ENCOURAGE SELF-HELP STREET SCHEMES

Groups of residents prepared to supply voluntary labour for sealing footpaths ’outside their homes and other street improvement works in their districts could be assured of co-operation by the Christchurch City Council, which would supply materials and supervision, said the chairman of the council’s works committee (Cr. A. R. Guthrey) last evening.

“It is not that the council is getting people to do its work for it; it is just that the council cannot get around to doing all the work it has to at once, and people who supply the labour will not only make sure of getting their street works done quickly, but they will save the council a lot of money,” he said. Loan Application Cr. Guthrey said that the council had applied to the Local Government Loans Board for permission to raise a loan of £500.000. The money would be used for a large programme of footpaths, kerbing, and channelling in new streets. There was little doubt that the permission would be given, but then the council had to raise the money before it could proceed with the work. The programme would take three or four years. But if residents wished to get on with the job themselves they would be assisted. A group of Hoon Hay living in Wyn street have taken

the lead in Christchurch. Some of the houses were established soon after the Hoon 'Hay subdivision in 1P52, but it was only two weeks ago that Wyn street was metalled. Faced with the prospect of another winter of muddy footpaths (the subdivider put in the kerbing and channelling), the residents joined forces, and on Saturday formed a metal footpath, ready for sealing, more than 200 yards long on one side of the. street. Tools and Trucks The council provided the wooden boxing and the metal and tools, such as picks and shovels, together with three trucks and three drivers to supervise the job. Sixteen men turned out from nearby homes voluntarily, and worked a seven-hour day. They hope to complete the work on Saturday, April 27. “I hope this will be the forerunner of other such schemes,” commented Cr. Guthrey, who visited the street when work was being done. “I do not know where Wyn street was on the list of priorities, but the people who live in the street have shown commendable community spirit, and their work should be encouraged.

‘‘They did a remarkably good job of work, and I hope lead will be followed. If it is people will be assisting the council in its shortage of both money and labour, and Ip the long run helping themselves,” he said.