STREETS OF NEWMARKET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13481, 4 July 1907, Page 3

STREETS OF NEWMARKET.

A COUNCILLOR ASHAMED OF

HIMSELF.

I'm: condition of the streets of New!market engaged the attention of the Newmarket Borough Council last evening. They have long engaged the attention of (residents, but some members of the Council, in considering the customary rate proposals, confessed themselves pricked to the iquick by the state of the streets. The ! Mayor (Mr. F. Bennett) moved that a |general rate of Is 6d in the £ should be struck, together with a hospital and charitable aid rate of 3d in the £. He said that the rate was the same as last year, and it had enabled them to carry on the work of the borough and hold their own.

i Mr. Leek seconded, but he expressed the ! opinion that the borough was a long way from being kept in order. More money should be spent on the main streets, whence the bulk of the rates came. He had ] been tormented in regard to the state of the streets. It was not t only the mud and the dust, but the holes, many of which .should be kept in order by the Tramway Company. He was ashamed of himself for living on the main street, the condition of which during the last month was disgraceful. Mr. Teed admitted that the main part of the borough was a disgrace. Mr Seccombe moved an amendment. ■' That the general rate should be increased 2d in the £." It was necessary that the rate should be raised if they were to im- ; prove the borough. ] Mr. Kinder thought it was useless to j increase the rates, and he strongly. opposed;

j The" Mayor said he had been harassed by people, not only about the main streets, but the back streets—people who were !afraid of falling into' holes. However, j there was no need for an increase, and if I they handled the material at their disposal judiciously the present rate would be ample. Newmarket had for a long time previously been worse than it was at present. The amendment was lost, and the motion passed by six votes to throe. The Council then considered a motion for an all-round increase of the wages of the Council's employees. This was lost by four votes to rive.