REQUEST FOR SUBSIDY

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1946, Page 4

REQUEST FOR SUBSIDY

PROPOSALS FOR COBDEN ■ SEWERAGE’ FULL LOAN IMPRACTICABLE Disappointment that proposals for a sewerage scheme for Cobden were not included in the major loan proposals of the Greymouth Borough Council was expressed at a meeting of the council last evening. It was explained that the rate required for a loan of £47,000, the estimated cost of the scheme, would place practically an impossible burden on the Cobden ratepayers, and after discussion it was decided that the Mayor (Mr. F. A. Kitchingham), and Crs. P. Blanchfield and J. Stokes meet the Minister of Transport (Mr. O’Brien) during his visit to Greymouth this week-end, and ask him to place before the Government a request for a substantial subsidy for the work. Cr. Stokes raised the question, stating that he regretted that the council in its loan proposals had not included the Cobden sewerage scheme. There were a lot of people in Cobden anxious to have the opportunity to decide whether they would have the sewerage or not. - It was realised that the council could not do all the drainage required in Cobden out of revenue, and that a loan would be required. Recently the council had refused two applications for permission to instal septic tanks, telling the applicants that proposals for a severage loan would soon be placed before them. He knew that the sewerage for Cobden would cost about £47,000, which would raise the rates by about £4 or £5 a year, but the people of Cobden should have the opportunity of seeing and deciding on the proposals. “Crucify the Ratepayers” • Cr. Blanchfield agreed that a statement should be made for the information of the people of Cobden. It should be explained that the unimproved value of the property in Cobden to be rated was only £28,000, and a loan of £47,000 would be a very heavy burden on the ratepayers. He suggested that the position should be explained to the Minister of Transport (Mr. O’Brien) with a request for a substantial Government subsidy. Cr. F. F. Boustridge said that the only reason for the question being deferred was the exorbitant cost which would be placed on the properties in Cobden. . The Mayor: We realised that a loan of almost twice the unimproved value of Cobden would be an impossible proposition. , Cr. Stokes said he did not think there was a prospect of Cobden getting a sewerage scheme within 30 years if they did not get a subsidy. The resolution, as stated above, was then put to the meeting and carried. Cobden Deputation. The Works Committee reported that on its visit of inspection on Wednesday a deputation was received from the Cobden Ratepayers’ Association to discuss the condition of Ashmore avenue. The deputation Was advised that the council had loan money to expend upon the sewerage of the street which work would be done as soon as labour was available, thus solving the drainage problem. Thereafter the footpath, under which the sewer would lie, would be tar-sealed. The suggestion was made that to improve access to the dwellings on the lower side of the rise the rise should be lowered by at least three feet, but the committee recommended that the views of residents on the hillside above the rise be obtained before any action was taken. The report was adopted.