STREET WIDENING

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 57, 17 September 1928, Page 10

STREET WIDENING

THE MAYOR'S VIEWS MUST MAKE A HALT £1,000,000 .PROGRAMME A comprehensive outline of streetwidening commitments, and an idea of the magnitude of the city's programme in that respect, were given by the. Mayor, Mr. G. A. 'Troup, to a "Post" reporter to-day. Mr.' Troup repeats what he said at Thursday night's meeting of the City Council—that a halt must be made in adding to the financial burdens 'of the city in the matter of street widening. "It was with feelings of surprise and regret that I read the contribution from Councillor H. D. Bennett in the 'Evening Post,' and I feel sure that on. reflection he also will regret that he so rashly made tho statement he did, reflecting on one of the council's very best officers," said Mr. Troup. "At the council meeting he attacked the same officer, making, amongst other uncalled-for statements, the following: 'It appeared to him that the Tramwaya Department was gradually getting out of hand, and might have to be told to carry out the policy of the council'; and this threat was made because the Tramways Manager dared to differ from him. It is an interesting sidelight to the methods that sometimes are resorted to in council proceedings. "The public of Wellington will, I feel sure, have cause for satisfaction in knowing that there are in the council's employ officers who refuse to be brow-beaten, and who will quite frankly and independently come to their own decisions and make their recommendations on matters affecting their respective departments despite the fact that those recommendations may not be palatable to councillors. The same intimidating attitude shown to the manager appears throughout his. remarks with regard to councillors. They seemingly must not think for themselves, but must say 'yea' to Councillor Bennett's 'yea,' and 'nay' to his 'nay.' If anyone is getting out of hand, it is surely the councillor who is becoming so intolerant that he will'not give to other councillors the right of independent, thought and decision. "The facts of the case can be much more correctly judged from a perusal of the report 'in your paper of the council's proceedings than from the version given by Councillor Bennett. In acting as it did tho council evidently determined to review the whole scheme, the cost of which was not £60,000, but £77,154, to which has to bo added £8300 for tramway track and equipment, making a total of £85,454. "A diagonal road was provided itt place of the right-angled road connecting Euahine street with Adelaido road. Now, however desirable this deviation may be, and I frankly admit that it has its merits, the main consideration is: Can the city afford to go on with an unlimited programme of streetwidening and street deviation? Has the time not come to call a halt? I think it has, and seven other Councillors also think so! and if I mistake not, the ratepayers of the city think likewise. "Street wideaing has cost Wellingjton to date £357,137, a further £100,000 is now required, and a still further £500,000 represents the commitments to complete the schemes approved by the Council. The total cost of street widening therefore for the complete programme carried out and ia hand is approximately one million pounds, which is equal to at least 1-5 of Wellington's total indebtedness. Interest at 5J per cent, and sinking fund 1 per cent, on this sum represents an annual payment of £65,000. Can the Council afford to go on adding to this programme and meet its other many commitments? I think not. "It is quite true there are many desirable civic improvements which' if done now will cost niuch less than if carried out at a later date, but this generation cannot afford to shoulder the whole of posterity's burden. Even. if the cost be much greater in, say, forty years' time, money invested now at 5J per cent, compound interest would j multiply itself sixfold in forty years, Iso that an expenditure of £85,000, if invested to-day, would be worth half a million in forty years' time. •"Were the Council to enter now upon ! all of the desirable schemes in the city it would place an intolerable burden on the shoulders of ratepayers. Judgment and caution have to be exercised |as to when it is necessary to cry ( "halt," insofar as further street widening is concerned. In my opinion, that time has come. "There are many commitments apart from street widening which the Council has made, and which it will inevitably; have to make, and it is my duty as Mayor of tho City and Chairman of tka Finance Committee to see that thosa are provided for. lam having a detailed statement of those prepared which with a full statement of loans authorised during the three years, will show ratepayers where they »r« heading for unless a halt is called foi1 some time at least. "With regard to accommodation for) those who frequent the Athletic Park, the Tramways Manager states definitely that he can make more efficient and more economical provision for them than in this scheme which the Council has refused to authorise."