LOAN SUGGESTED

Evening Post, Issue 36, 12 February 1935, Page 7

LOAN SUGGESTED

PETONE IMPROVEMENTS BATHS. AND BEACH ■ There, was a discussion at the meetIng of the. Petone Borough Council last evening on the advisability '. of taking • a loan poll to imprave the McKenzie. Baths and the beach. In introducing the subject the-Mayor (Mr,-A. Scholefield) said that, the chairman of the beach -'beautifying .committee (Councillor E..W. .Toomatb)-" hadrhadthe matter .under^'cpjisi'dera-' tiph.' If the counciilbFS'^^ted'apbil they would > have to - make . upl"'fheir <minds sooii, as the '■'■ legal J: formalities ■•liad tobe dealt witli. ■-■ ■■&'.. „; .^ [~..... Toomath: .impressed, on.the council-that ther matter Was Jurgent.. ite~undefstood from Mr;, Firth (Town Clferk)1 that it was 'hot 7 necessary tQ Jiave the detailed' plaiis/and^specifica..tjohs to; put before -the JCbans Board. • He.'suggested that tfie.: council;; should ask. for an adequateVsum."in.': < round •figures. He suggested ,£IOOO, br : possibly £1200, for the McKenzie. Baths to'provide adequate;adult accommodation "for dressing, and; also seating' ground the baths. On ; the beach an up-to-date pavilion was',needed, with a certain amount of orriamerital work in the vicinity. He suggested that. 60.00 . would cover the ; two schemes. -■ ' Councillor V. A. Noble said that they could not lose! sight of the fact that they had other proposals before the .council. -They had to consider1 a stormwater drainage scheme for the : whole of the borough and possibly a new pavilion for the Recreation Ground.. . . . . . . ~ , Councillor, E. T.E. Hogg stated'that the council had been spending heavily . on the Jackson Street widening during ■ the past few months, and that would have togo on' to\the rates *ne?rt year. Would it not be better, he asked, "to put all the proposals to the ratepayers ..at one time?" Councillor "WV H: Edwards* said that what Councillor Hogg stated about the rates had ;given him. a fright. "As far, as : Jackson Street widening ' is concerned there will be no increase in the. rates next year," stated the Mayor. "'■,.'■ : Co.uncillor Toomath pointed out that the Wo proposals would be revenueproducing. Adult accommodation was needed at the McKenzie Baths, and until this was remedied the :baths :would not become as popular as they should be." The interest charges on £1200 at 5 per cent, were only £60, and that additional amount ■could probably be obtained if' the baths were improved. The same thing applied to the beach, where an up-to-date pavilion would attract many more 'visitors than at present. The Mayor said the baths were there and the council would have to provide.facilities for them. Councillor E. N. Campbell said the proposal would warrant a special meeting of the council, and other proposals could be discussed; there, too. ,' It -was decided to call a meeting of 'the council to discuss the matter next Monday. ■ •- ''