LOAN APPROVED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 15

LOAN APPROVED

BIRKENHEAD DBAINAGE MAJORITY OF 55 VOTES SCHEME TO COST £35,000 The poll taken at Birkenhead yesterday on the proposal to borrow £28,000 for installing a sewerage system in the closely populated portion of the borough resulted in the proposal being carried by a majority of 55 votes. The voting was as follows: For the proposal 278 Against • • • • 223 Informal 8 Majority for proposal . . 55 There are still twelve declaration votes to be counted. Altogether 521 ratepayers registered their votes, out of 986 entitled to do so. The scheme prepared. is to cost £35.000, of which £7OOO is to be provided by the Unemployment Board as subsidy on wages. The Mayor, Mr. G. Mills, addressing the residents who gathered outside the Borough Chambers to hear the declaration of the poll, expressed gratification at the result, which he took as an endorsement of the progressive policy of the Borough Council. The work, which would give employment to from 125 to 150 men, would be proceeded with as soon as possible. It would be carried out by contract, with the proviso that Birkenhead residents would be employed, thus relieving the unemployment problem locally. The drainage district was divided into nine sections, and the project was so designed that each section would be undertaken separately, and separate contracts would be let for each. The finance had been arranged at 3£ per cent interest, with annual repayments toward the loan extinction of approximately 2 per cent. The special rate for these annual charges would be 2.8 d in the pound on the unimproved value of the properties contained within the specified drainage area. Mr. Mills said it was very pleasing . that the reproach, that Birkenhead was the only borough on the North Shore without a proper drainage system, was to be removed, and residents would be grateful to have the assurance that the best interests of the health of the district were safeguarded.