COST OF DRAINAGE WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19719, 19 August 1927, Page 12

COST OF DRAINAGE WORK.

SUPPLEMENTARY LOAN. COUNCILLOR'S OBJECTION. "I have objected for several years, but quite ineffectually, against the practice of raising sums additional to the original amount of loans," said Miss E. Melville at the meeting of the City Council last evening. Her remarks were provoked by a resolution empowering the council to seek the sanction of the Loans Board to raiso an additional 10 per ceut. on the £120,000 drainage loan. Demanding to know why the extra sum was required, Miss Melville said: It has become the practice in recent years to raise more than the amounts originally sanctioned for loans. In some cases, loans have been deliberately raised by the council with the knowledge that they would not provide sufficient for the work proposed. i Mr. J. Dempsey said such contingencies as alterations in the price of metal and othor material often made it necessary to supplement a loan by raising the whole or part of the 10 per cent, additional allowed by law. The Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, said it was difficult to keep expenditure within limits, especially in drainage works. He instanced the collapse of some drains at Parnell. Miss Melville: But what is this £12,000 for ? The city engineer, Mr. W. E. Bush, explained that co-operation with outside boroughs in the scheme in hand, and the cost of extensions and renewals, had increased the outlay. The resolution was confirmed.