ST. KILDA’S AMBITION.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 15 August 1927, Page 8

ST. KILDA’S AMBITION.

WORLD’S GREATEST RESOIIT

DIG STATE GRANT SOUGHT

.MELBOURNE, Aug. 15

St. Kilda, three or four miles from Melbourne, desires to be placed on the map as the greatest bathing resort, in the world. But it needs money to attain its ambition. And, unfortunately, it has approached the Government at a time when there is an empty Treasury chest and little prospect of financial assistance.

The scheme planned by St. Kilda for improvement of its bathing facilities involves an expenditure of £IOO,OOO. The Government has been asked to hand over £20,000 as a free gift, and lend the balance, free of interest, for a period of 37 years, during which the council would repay the debt by equal instalments. The argument, of course, is that St. Kilda should be regarded as a national holiday resort, and as such should be largely subsidised by the Government.

It is claimed that 8.203.670 persons visited the St. Kilda esplanade last year. The estimate includes only train and tram travellers, and does not embrace tlio thousands of motorists, who visit the foreshore. The proposal of tlie.con noil is regarded by the Labour Cabinet as novel, but by no means modest. And the Government is faced with the difficulty of how to make n grant of £20.000 out of a deficit. The "Premier, however. has suggested that a small start might be made with £IO.OOO. which the council already has more or less in hand. But such a beginning does not appeal to the council .