BEACH IMPROVEMENT

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 159, 2 April 1937, Page 7

BEACH IMPROVEMENT

Possible Work at Petone Out of Revenue POSITION DISCUSSED Possible work Unit might be done out of revenue since all three loan proposals had been turned down by the ratepayers was briefly discussed by the Petone Borough Council at a meeting last night. Improvements to the bathing accommodation on the foreshore were regarded as urgent, and it was agreed that the position should be investigated.

A suggestion that the reserves committee should be recommended to give special attention to beach improvements when considering the estimates was made by Cr. J. R. Gaynor. Even in the face of the refusal of the ratepayers to sanction the loan proposal for the beach improvement, something would have to be done to provide better facilities.

Cr. D. M. Dickson moved that in the matter of the beach the reserves committee should give special eonsidera-

tion to accommodation when the estimates were being framed. It was no use asking the reserves committee to lay special stress on the beach until it was known how much money was available, Cr. J. Cumming contended. If the ratepayers were not prepared to pay for improvements to the foreshore, recreation ground, or baths, the council would have Io sec what it could do out of revenue. Cr. J. C. Burns, seconding the motion. said he thought Cr. Dickson was asking the reserves committee, which had a lot of things to consider, to give special attention to bathing accommodation as being most urgent, That was quite a right thing to do. • It was pointed out by Cr. Gaynor that the ratepayers were warned before the poll that if the loan proposals were turned down a great deal of the work would have to be done out of revenue.

The mayor, Mr. A. Scholefield, agreed that that was the case, and observed that if the expenditure on the foreshore was gone on with it would mean an increase in rates and that would bo heavier than interest and sinking fund on the loan had it been carried. Cr. Burns asked what the position would lie on the recreation ground, where the council proposed to spend £5OO a year. He pointed out that the proposed expenditure was contingent on the loan being carried, and as it had not been sanctioned the matter would have to be reviewed. The council agreed that it would be necessary to review the position. Cr. A. M. Macfarlane questioned whether a 20 per cent, vote was a true indication of the view of the ratepayers as a whole. There were certain works for which provision should definitely be made. It was his intention to bring forward at a later date a suggestion that the cheapest way of improving the streets and footpaths of the borough was by way of loan. Work in this direction was necessary and would have to bo carried out before long.

The mayor said that position had been faced on two or three occasions. The time would come when it would probably be best to raise a loan for the work.

The motion was carried, the mayor, and Crs. Cumming and Edwards voting against it.