MUNICIPAL WORKS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16796, 12 March 1918, Page 6

MUNICIPAL WORKS.

POLICY OF THE COUNCIL

ESTIMATES DUE IN APRIL. Tire policy of the City Council in respect to works during the coming financial year was referred to yesterday by the Mayor. Mr. Gunson said it was anticipated that at the council meeting to be held on April 4 the estimates for the 1918-19 period would be available, though in a somewhat tentative form. It was advisable that the estimates should be adopted as soon as possible after the beginning of tho new financial year, as the council was now working on a very small i margin. The loan accounts were now : being reduced to small dimensions, even the recent authorities being almost exhausted, and the corporation was rapidly] reaching the point when its operations j would be confined to general account. 1 Tho principal works remaining on loan 1 account, apart from Anzac Avenue, which | was in a class by itself, were the works' at the railway wharf approach, and the I several permanent street improvement* yet to be authorised on account of the ' , balance of £22,500 of the streets improve- 1 ! ment loan. The works at the wharf . i approach were nearing completion, and : ; the paving of Beach Road would he | ' undertaken as soon as the tram lines; I were placed in position. The works to j be carried out by the balanco of tho I streets improvement loan would probably I embrace Lower Symonds Street, but, l under the most favourable conditions of finance, this would not be commenced till i the end of 1918. '■ The Mayor said that, in view of the | financial position, there was every prospect ' of the council being able during the I coming year to maintain the present level lof operations. There had, however, been a decided retrenchment in many interests, and in the forthcoming estimates votes for parks and other similar claims would be devoid of any provision for improvements or new works other than those which would come under the heading of reasonable maintenance. As far as street works, in both the metropolitan and suburban districts, were concerned, expenditure on maintenance work to the fullest extent of the finances was involved. The Mayor said that before the close of the financial year—March 31—the fullest advantage would be taken of the fine weather to complete the works now in hand. More tarring and sanding of footpaths, and more tarring of roads had been done during the current year than in any previous year, both in the city i and suburbs, though it was possible some I of the suburban footpaths might not have i been covered. The tarring of Upper Queen Street, past the Town Hall, he said, was an important improvement, and it was intended to complete this roadway with tar to tho junction of Karangahapo Road before the winter,