LOAN PROPOSALS

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 87, 10 October 1927, Page 10

LOAN PROPOSALS

GLASGOW STREET

FOOTPATH AND WfDENING

THB.EE ISSUES

Discussion of the amended loan proposals at the last meeting of the City Council largely centred about the proposed expenditure of £8000 upon a footpath for Glasgow street, but though various views were put forward the actual nature of the work proposed was not made very clear.

Glasgow,street has long been recognised as a particularly dangerous roadway, considering that it is a main route to Kelburn, Northland, and Karori, and is, moreover, a bus route. There is no footpath at'all, and the roadway is so narrow' that in the event of a bus (or lorry), a car, and a pedestrian meeting in line across the road paint is likely to be scraped off something, or, in the case' of' the pedestrian, skin and hair. There are worse roads about Wellington, but'they are not main traffic routes.

' To widen the road a heavy concrete retaining wall:will have to be built on the northern side, and the footpath will be carried but beyond this wall again, just as has been done in Carlton Gore road. .

Estimates of the cost of the whole job vary greatly, but the proposal is that the council shall, in the event of the £8000 expenditure being approved (as part of the footpaths item), find the money required to finish the road widening from sources other than loan moneys. . THREE ISSUES ONLY. The Mayor stated to-day that it was probable that three issues only would be placed before the ratepayers: (1) Eoading work, covering both bituminous paving and tar-sealing; (2) footpaths; (3) public conveniences. There could not be any great objection to that course, said Mr. Troup, in view of the facts that it would enable the council to go to the London market and so obtain more favourable terms than could be obtained elsewhere, and that ratepayers would still have the opportunity of voting upon the footpath and conveniences items separately. Mr. Troup added that he thought that it would be possible now ; to bring the poll before the ratepayers in December, and he sincerely hoped that on polling day a much greater interest would be shown than last month, when only 5000 out of nearly 30,000 ratepayers took the trouble to vote.

Saturday afternoon and yesterday were busy and long for certain officers and typists. in the Engineer's Department, for while the sun shone outdoors they put in long hours on schedules and plans, rushing the necessary documents through that they might be sent on to the Government Loans Board to-day. Even so, there is very little time to spare if the poll is to be taken before the Christmas holidays.