MUNICIPAL WORKS.

Evening Star, Issue 18031, 27 July 1922, Page 8

MUNICIPAL WORKS.

TO THE EDITOR.

•Sir, —I would like to call the. attention of the citizens of Dunedin to tho'very slow progress that has been made with regard to the widening of Cargill road. A piece of ground was bought from my father thirty-seven years ago at the corner of Alexandra street and Cargill road to start this work, and there is still about half of Cargill road to be a most marvellous progress, reflecting great credit on mayors and councillors. It appears to mo there is too much patchwork done in Dunedin —a littlo bit here and a little bit there—instead of one thing at a time, and that done well. Can you tell mo why the council should go to the great expense of asphalting Cumberland street when main arterial streets in South Dunedin like King Edward street and Cargill road are seas of mud in the winter and thick with dust in the summer? To me it seems that South Dunedin and Cargill’s Corner, with all its growing business places, would have done much belter to remain apart instead of amalgamating with the city. In my opinion no side streets like Cumberland street should bo paved until the main arterial roads of the city have been completed. What is now known as South Dunedin and Cargill road! will in the future he the centre of Dunedin. I have seen it happen in other cities of New Zealand, and the same will happen here. The natural increase of Dunedin will be towards the offering the best building sites and lowest-lying ground. People are not going to climb hills alfter a hard day’s work if they can possibly help it. The ground’d at present occupied by Chinese gardens should ho acquired by the council, cut up into sections, drained, roaded, and have workmen’s homes built on them. All roads should bo made to the same plan as Valpy street, St. Clair. The financing of these progressive works could bo done by an issue of municipal notes or bonds, each of £1 value, to circulate in Dunedin only, the council calling in part every two yearn, paying a bonus of 2s in the £ (municipal note). This would be a good means of giving work to unemployed. The notes would bo backed! by the City Council, and could bo used freely by tradesmen in Dunedin, in conjunction with other bank notes, and the lucky ones to hold tho notes when called up would obtain & in tho £. 1 am confident yon would find) this scheme work all right.—l am, etc., July 26. ’ Progress.