MT. EDEN LOAN SCHEME

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18577, 8 December 1923, Page 13

MT. EDEN LOAN SCHEME

EXPLANATION BY THE MAYOR

COUNCILLORS AND CRITICS.

OBJECTION TO STATEMENT.

Objection at the attitude adopted at a public meeting called recently by the Mount Eden Ratepayers' Association to consider the Borough Council's loan proposals was expressed by speakers at a meeting of ratepayers held last evening. The Mayor, Mr. E. H. Potter, presided over a moderate attendance. The loan proposals involve tho .raising of £140,000— for roads, £7000 for water reticulation, £5000 for firefighting appliances, and £3000 for improvements to the swimming baths. Mr. Potter stated that the road loan provided for the laying down in concrete of Dominion and Mount Eden Roads, and for tho bituminous paving of side roads. To continue the present wasteful method of upkeep would result in an increasing cost of maintenance every year. The cost of maintenance this year would be about £10,500, while the estimate!cost of ; upkeep and replacement on the two main ! roads' under present conditions for a | period of 10 years would be approximately £40,000. After tho work on the main and side-roads was completed he estimated that maintenance would not exceed £3000 per annum. In the opinion of ail expert there should be no cost of upkeep on concrete roads for the first 10 years. The saving in maintenance would amount to about £5000 per annum, and the increase in rates on new buildings would be not less than £4575, t.he two items together more than paying the interest and sinking fund on all the money it was proposed to raise tinder the road loan. In support of his contention that the raising of the loans would not mean an increase in the rates, the Mayor quoted figures showing ratable value on new buildings erected in the past few years. It was not intended, he said, to raise the valuation on existing buildings. Mr. R. Morrison, a member of the council, said no took personal exception to the statements made at a recent meeting in opposition to the loans, that the council was incapable of looking after the money. The Mayor and members of tho council were not going to play with the money. They were going to use it in the best interests of the ratepayers. He contended that it would not be pos--'ble to keep on maintaining the roads as the council was doing at present. He favoured plain concrete for the two main roads. In reply to a question, he repeated that ho preferred plain concrete, \ and he did not care what the engineer | had recommended.—(Laughter.) A Voice: "Haven't you any confidence in your engineer?" "Die need for efficient fire-fighting appliances was emphasised by Mr. L. Joll, also a member of the council. In reply to a question, he said ho considered efficiency could be maintained without an alarm system, as the telephone was almost universal. Continuing, Mr. Joll said; he would describe those opposing the council as a band of disappointed men. (Applause.) Two out of the four who were on the platform at a recent meeting were previous Mayors, both of whom had resigned and "let the 'ratepayers down."" "If the ratepayers are not satisfied with us," said Mr. Joll, "they can show it at tho ballot box. We should see the fight out to the last ditch." The opinion that the rates would not have to be raised if tho loans were carried was expressed bv another member of the council, Mr. G. L. Taylor, who quoted figures showing File building activity in the borough. He considered the critics of the council were putting matters in the wrong light. In a recent year the expenditure on Mount Eden Road was £1344, and on Dominion Road £1851. The present indebtedness of tho borough amounted to only afknit £17 per head of the population, which compared favourably with other distritts. "Our Mayor," concluded Mr. Taylor, "acts like a gentleman. He doesn't walk out when the council votes against him."