SEWERING THE BOROUGH

Manawatu Times, Volume XLXI, Issue 3481, 15 December 1926, Page 8

SEWERING THE BOROUGH

Mayor Explains Wh at is Proposed

INCLUSION OF MILSON SUBURB

To an audience'of some fifty residents. the Mayor of Palmerston North (Mr. P. J. Nathan) explained last night the terms and purposes of the sewerage loan proposals that are shortly to be placed before ratepayers.

His Worship, at the outset, said the chief point he desired to make was that while a large number of residents were paying for and getting the benefit of the drainage system, others who also had to pay a proportion of the whole cost did not have that convenience. Money had been borrowed from time to time to provide lewerage and the Mayor characterised it as grossly unfair that some ratepayers should be deprived of the service .while assisting in the upkeep pf that for others. Criticism had been levelled at the late proposal on the ground that it .was incomplete and did not provide sufficient money for unsewered areas. Alternative proposals were now offered to meet the objection, the estimated sums involved being £15,000 and £25,000.

Mr. Nathan then proceeded to give details of the schemes, the schedules of which have previously been published. Regarding the recent flooding of the Roy-Wood-North streets area, the Mayor described the conditions engendered as simply appalling. It had been stated that even if the sewer were laid the banking up of the Mangaone would perpetuate trouble but they had the assurance Of the Borough engineer that this would not be so. To assist in solving the drainage problem ,an earlier proposal to duplicate the outfall sewer had been submitted and carried, and to complete the work thus begun and to save the efforts already made from being largely thrown away, they must now extend the system. Money was held by the Council for the reticulation of Matlpo, Rongopal and neighbouring streets and other areas would immediately be thrown open for building sites when the drains were laid. No Council would spend all the money Involved in the larger proposal until such expenditure was warranted. No fewer than 12S houses would be affected by the scheme.

The Mayor said that the opposition which had been manifested was unreasonable and selfish. Everyone surely wished Palmerston North to advance and in no sense could drainage be called an extravagance. Modern sewers were a first essential of any modern town. The added cost would not affect the rates appreciably. A good deal had been , said said of the Borough’s gross indebtedness, but the critics didn’t tell what they had for their money. They had a self-supporting gas undertaking and an electrical department that after paying in £3400 for general rates, and paying interest and sinking fund and £IB,OOO for extensions, would still have a large surplus. Thousands were enjoying the water and sewerage provided, and none had had called these things unwarranted. He appealed t.o all to support the loan. He was more than surprised to see opponents among the residents Of Hokowhitu, especially as they had suffered as other parts were now suffering.

Mr. W. Milverton asked a large number Of questions regarding levels and the direction pf the proposed sewer s and Cr. R, Edwards addressed the meeting also. The latter complained of the scheme submitted on various technical grounds, particularly in regard to the use of concrete pipes. Neither . was sewerage exceedingly necessary at the present moment. After reference to the vagaries Of the Mangaone in flood time, Cr. Edwards made an appeal for a large polling. Another questioner was . Informed that Milson Suburb would make a capital contribution toward the cost of the sewer. Towards this the Railway Board had offered £3lO, but the Council thought the amount should be at least £SOO plus an annual sum. The meeting concluded, after some strong expressions pf opinion from residents in the still unsewered streets.