Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1929. GREYMOUTH’S GROWTH

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 January 1929, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 1929. GREYMOUTH’S GROWTH

yiiE open debate on the merits of the Borough Council’s large loan proposals may be said to have been initiated on Thursday evening. when the Councillors decided to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for its sanction to the borrowing of £100,756 for the purposes of sewerage, drainage, water supply, works plant, and street improvements. There is a further application as the Domain Board to borrow nearly £.5000 to improve the Recreation Ground. That Greymouth would be a vastly improved town were the proposed works fulfilled cannot be disputed; the main question for discussion is whether a town, with so small a population and so comparatively heavy present debts, is justified in sanctioning the new borrowings. We have previously appealed to the ratepayers not to form hasty judgment, nor to permit prejudices on the one hand, nor the glamour of

big schemes on the other, to tempt them astray, but to give adequate consideration to the scheme’s details, and then vote according to their opinions based on intelligence. Many will be frightened at the news that rates may be greatly increased, seeing that already these demands are high. Progress, however, must be paid for, and the alternative is comparative stagnation. Greymouth would have been wise to have gone in lor modern drainage 20 years ago or more, when the cost would have been much lower. However, vain regrets serve no useful purpose, and the situation must be faced as it exists to-day.

Doubtless, between now and the polling day, ample information regarding the loan proposals will be forthcoming from the Mayor and Councillors, and we shall take the opportunity as occasion offers to comment on the statements made. For example, Cr. O ’Brien, expressed the opinion at the Council meeting, that long before 36 years have passed,—by which time the loan will have been repaid and new plant will be required,—Greymouth will have trebled its population. It would be interesting to know on what grounds he bases the faith that is within him. The present population is about 6000, and as small families are likely to be the rule for the next few decades, any large increase of population must be of newcomers. What will attract these to Greymouth?' New industries and great development of present concerns would be essential to provide the necessary employment. What are the present prospects of attracting new industries, and will such prospects be improved by properties being more highly rated? Capitalists, seeking to establish works in a ’district, will not rush in if the land they must lease or purchase, is costly and also highly rated. The price of land in Greymouth cannot be regarded to-day, as low.

Another factor, that increases the growth and prosperity of towns is the possession of good farming country around it. Can Greymouth claim to have this? There is always a possibility of new mineral wealth helping to increase Greymouth’s trade, but this would not add greatly to the population of the town itself. Greymouth’s high rates will help to drive people—in these days of cars —to the outer suburbs and County areas, where rates are low. Cr. Baty rightly pointed out that there was no guarantee that the town would treble its size in 36 years. He said that if they took the past rate of growth as an indication, it would probably take 150 years for the town to treble its present size. Cr. Baty has lived in the district all his life, and would be the last to belittle the Borough’s prospects. Advocates of loan proposals should avoid extravagant statements or predictions if the cause they have so much at heart is to succeed in winning the ratepayers’ support.