CITY STREETS IMPROVEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16936, 23 August 1918, Page 4

CITY STREETS IMPROVEMENT.

A great deal of interest will be taken in the proposal submitted to the City Council by the Mayor last evening that the ratepayers should be asked to sanction a loan ;of £165,000 for street improvements. Not only in Auckland, but throughout the Dominion, it will be regarded as a reversal of the policy adopted at the outbreak of the war of postponing all new .' undertakings involving the expenditure of municipal or national funds. ; That decision did not anticipate four years of hostilities, nor such a' universal alteration in conditions as the war has caused. Mr. Gunson has-now asked the City Council to consider whether it is economical to wait for the declaration of peace before proceeding with works of such public importance as ) the permanent construction of the city's main thoroughfares. Consideration of all the circumstances leads to - the conclusion that the Mayor's proposals will be commended ljy both councillors and ratepayers. There are unquestionably, difficulties to be overcome before such a policy can be carried into' effect, but it unfortunately cannot be suggested that those difficulties will disappear - upon ; the ■ conclusion of ; peaces and c there ;is »a growing feeling that ; the £ administration of both national and; municipal. affairs must be adjusted to present circumstances. • On the other hand, it will be generally agreed that the condition :of 1 many, important streets in the ;city is 'directly ■ responsible for much waste of public money in costly repairs and of much loss through the extreme wear and tear Of all vehicles passing over them. Mr. Gunson has outlined a programme for , several years, arid by the time the first ,of the proposed works could be started* the end of the war will probably be within measurable distance. There are thus many ; sound reasons for resuming the progressive policy suspended four years ago. It may be presumed that the council will make its plans '.> for ■ the financing of the scheme with a prudent regard for the national ■ obligations, and that it will :so ' restrict its '■£. constructive works that , labour will not be absorbed to the injury of other industries, but with reasonable safeguards a . new- policy of street improvements ; will« be both economical and beneficial to the interests of the city. '- : -V:J(^;.;'; ; .''; ; '; ; -\ ;:;:'■;; ;,J; •-