LOAN FOR ARTESIAN SCHEME SANCTIONED

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7018, 18 September 1929, Page 6

LOAN FOR ARTESIAN SCHEME SANCTIONED

Loans Board Approves

WORK WILL RELIEVE T: unemployment

Criticism of tie dilatory methods of the Local Bodies Loans Board voiced at Monday night’s me-eting of the Palmerston North Borough Council may, or may not, have had something to Ido with it but the delayed information in connection with the sanction of the Palmerston North water loan, waa received by the Mayor (Mr A. J. Graham) yesterday morning, seven days after the meeting of the board. According to the letter received by Mr Graham, the board is prepared to sanction a loan of £14,000 for providing an artesian water supply to serve the borough of Palmerston North. The board will not, however, give its approval to the alternative loan of £39,000 required for the construction of a . gravitation acfoome. Uhe Mayor expressed satisfaction at the receipt of the board’s sanction for the 'artesian loan and stated that a special 'meeting of the Borough Council would be called for Monday evening, in order to consider the board’s letter and pass the necessary resolutions to facilitate the matter. Every endeavour would be made to place the loan before the ratepayers as early as possible, so that if their sanction was obtained, a commencement might be ' made on the work before the end of the year. ' " ■ ' Mr Graham stated that the work would giro employment to a number of the men at present out of work in Palmerston North and district and in this respect would have the effect of relieving tne unemployment position. He thought that it would be possible to give the ratepayers an opportunity oi voting on the loan within six weeks ’time. If the loan was carried,, no time would be lost in putting the work in hand. Tho latter to the council from the Chairman of the Local Government Loan* Board states:—“With reference to. the application to the Local Government Loans Board for sanction to raise lease for £39,000 and £14,000, I forward herewith notification of sanction in respect of £14,000 for the artesian scheme. The board is not prepared to sanction a* an alternative loan the > amount of £39,000 required for the gravitation scheme. “Th* board considers that when two usqm are involved differing in technical' detail* the council should decide which sobema should be adopted before "taking the poll," as it ie unreasonable ta,expect the ratepayers to make a desieaoa on. toohmoal considerations if the *otm*A itttdi is B&t ftfcl© to como to ft j definite deeWon on these points. Tho report* receivad by the board indicate that the artesian supply should be recommended to the ratepayers. In the event of the artesian scheme being rejaeted by the ratepayers, the board’s’ decision of September 11 will not operate as a bar to your eoanoil in again axmrovdb&og the Loans Board in connection with the gravitation scheme. .The following extract from a report received by the Loans Board is referred for the consideration of your eouncil: — * A eanssdeaable portion of the catchment area is privately-owned land, denuded of bush, and it is understood this portion is the chief offender iss regards the production of silt. It is advisable that this privately-owned land should be under the control of the council .and should be planted. Possibility of pollution and silting up of the reservoir .would thus be reduced.’ ” .The £14,000 loan will be for a term of 33 years at 5i per cent, rate of interest.