THE ACCESS PROBLEM

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 96, 24 April 1931, Page 10

THE ACCESS PROBLEM

MONEY FOR THE WEST

THE FUNDS ON HAND

Naturally questions in connection with the Sydney-Bowen street tram and road s connection figured largely at the meeting of electors at Northland last evening. The Civic League and Ratepayers' Association Mayoral candidate, Mr. T. 0. A. Hislop, after stating his full support of the proposal—though admitting that the council as a whole had not handled the matter in the most tactful way, through not taking the ratepayers into their confidence —gave information not previously clearly stated as to the funds available for the completion of the work, provided always that it was authorised by the Public "Works Department and received the support of the ratepayers at the poll which, he thought, must be taken. "The council has already spent between £60,000 and £70,000 on the western access," he said, "and when we havo tho authority to proceed we have the money to complete the work. There is £40,000 from tramway reserves; there is about £13,000 of relief work loans unexpended, and there is £16,000 from the electricity department for the final balance. I would agree, simply to get the work through, that the £16,000 should be used; but I would regard that arrangement only as a loan, not as a contribution for the electricity department has in fact no connection with this access work." Mr. J. N. Wallace, who is contesting a seat at the council table, said that he fully agreed with Mr. Hislop that the Sydney street road and tram should go through, but ho did not agree that the £16,000 from tho electricity department should be available, even as a loan, for no council had the habit of returning departmental moneys so borrowed. The electricity department had no more any right to pay for any part of that road any moro than had the Wellington Gas Company, or the milk department. Every trading department —and ho thought the fewer there were the better —should stand on its own feot, and all profits, after adequate provision had been made for reserves, etc., should bo devoted to reducing the cost of tho services given the consumers.