Improvements Delayed In Whangarei Borough

Northern Advocate, 18 April 1949, Page 3

Improvements Delayed In Whangarei Borough

LABOUR. MATERIAL SHORTAGES

SHORTAGES in labour and materials are delaying the big programme of Whangarei borough improvements. Only £4300 of the first £40,000 instalment of the £173,000 improvements loan, approved by the Local Government Loans Board and' sanctioned by the ratepayers, was expended during the last financial year.

The loan of £173,000 was approved by the Loans Board in 1947 and sanctioned by the ratepayers in February last year. The Treasury recommended to the Minister of Finance that he should approve the raising of £40,000 as the first part of the loan, this amount to provide for improvements to be carried out during the first two years, after which the council could apply to the board for approval of further funds. CAUSE OF DELAYS Since the money was made available difficulties in securing labour and materials have been experienced, while the fact that permits cannot be obtained for timber, cement and building—all requisites for the 10 years' improvement programme—have also had a delaying effect. Consequently, instead of spending £40,000 in the first two years, the council, which might have allocated the expenditure as £20,000 for each of the years, has spent only £4300, the principal items being £2197 for a roller, trucks and loading equipment, and £1902 for the formation and improvement of streets. At March 31 there was a balance of £99. All of the first instalment of £40,000, however, is not lying idle and accumulating large interest payments. Money is drawn in £IOO lots as required to avoid unnecessary interest payments. NEW YARD Tire building of the new yard to accommodate the machinery in the borough engineer’s department has been set back because permits for certain parts of the work are not obtainable from the building controller. Similarly, and for the identical reason. erection of bus shelters has not proceeded. Necessary permits for cement and steel are holding up the construction!

of the new bridge in Otaika Road, on the main south highway, and the widening of the existing bridge in Rust Lane. . A sum of £5300 was provided for the purchase of land and provision of a public parking area in Cafler’s Avenue, as well as dealing of the western end of Robert Street for a similar purpose. This work is likely to be carried out shortly. MILES OF SEALING ~ In various sections of the town tar sealing of roads and footpaths has been done, while preparations have been made for sealing other streets—work which will follow improvement in the weather. In all, 725 chains of macadam road are to be sealed and 1984 ’ chains of kerbing, channelling and concreting of footpaths are provided for. Kerbing and channelling will proceed as material and labour become available, but provision of new concrete footpaths will be delayed until cement in sufficient quantities is released for this work. With the necessary labour, materials and permits, the council's programme can proceed, but at .the present rate, with all these factors causing delays, it might be that a longer period will elapse before the improvements envisaged in the 10-year plan will be completed.