MONEY WANTED.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 140, 16 June 1913, Page 5

MONEY WANTED.

BRIDGES IN MARLBOROUGH.

DEPUTATION TO MINISTER, FOR j FINANCE,

i A deputation composed of Mr James Gane. chairman of the Spring Creek Road' Board, Mr E E. Robinson, secretary of that body, and Mr H. Lankow, representing the Picton Road Board, waited on the Hon. James Allen. -Minister for Finance, at Wellington on Friday, with reference to • the requirements of these Boards for the purposes of the bridge to be erected over the Opawa River at the end of Grove Road. Mr Gane explained- tliat tho partial cost of the work had been voluntarily allocated among the contributing local bodies. A Government, grant of £5000 was included in the last Estimates, and of the balance the Spring Creek Road Board had undertaken te provide £1800, and the Picton Board £1100. .. , The Minister sa^l he was very pleased to hear that the local authorities had come to an agreement. The deputation said tha.t it now asked the Government to advance the money it required. The Minister asked whether the other local bodies also desired to borrow their moneys from the Government. Mr Gane said that probably the majority of them did wish to do so. Mr Allen said that the Government could not very well accommodate the Spring Creek and Picton Boards without extending the same concession to the other local authorities. He advised the deputation to find out on their return what the other local bodies required and forward! the information to him, so that arrangements for their- accommodation could be made accordingly. The Minister gave the deputation to understand that he would be prepared to, accede to their request. He explained that, owing to th© stringency of the money market, the ■Government . was compelled to place: a -strict limit on its commitments; but it would useits utmost endeavors to keep faith, with the losal bodies which had assumed liabilities on th© strength of promises made in the p&st. Mr Gane said that, in addition to its requirements in respect to tihe Opawa bridge, the Spring Creek Road Board wanted £220 for its share of the cost of building the Wairau bridge and a smaller amouiuib in the case of the High .Street bridge. The Board had entrenched on "its ordinary ■revenue for the latter purposes. The Minister gave- the deputation to understand t'liat-these smaller liabilities would be provided for.. In tho course of his remarks Mr Gano pointed out that, his Board would also have to find between £200 and £300 in connection with- the decision to build a '.new.'hospital at Blenheim.

The Minister said lie had nothing to do with the hospital scheme. There was no money fora hospital this year.

THE BRIDGE PLANS

The deputation £hejn proceeded to intenriew the .Hon. W. Fraser, Minister for Public Works, in regard to the promised grant of £5000 for the Opawa bridge. Mr Gane also asked the. Minister to give favorable, consideration to fhe request for an additional £1000 for the approaches. The Minister said .that whatever promise the Government had made would be fulfilled.

The deputation hiaying refe-nred to the plans, the Minister called in Mr Holmes, of the Public "Works Department, who. produced.tf)he> plans, and gave the information that these would 'be forwarded to the^ Spring Creek Road Board, as 'the managing authority, at the end of this week. Mr Holmes also stated that the Department would be prepared to carry put the work of constructing the 'bridge if the local bodies would agree to that course.

■ Mr Gane asked whether the work would be done any more cheaply if the local authorities accepted this offer in preference to the tender system. .

Mr Holmes said that the Department had just completed the construction of a ferro-concrete bridge*^ in Otago at a cost of £1000 less than the lowest tender. ■

The deputation, haying thanked the { Minister and Mr Holmes, withdrew. On receipt of the plans, with: which Mr Gane expresses satisfaction, the Spring Oreek Road Board will submit them to a conference of the contributing local bodies.