REMOVAL OF HILL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22532, 24 September 1936, Page 13

REMOVAL OF HILL

PROJECT AT HAMILTON COUNCIL RECEIVES REPORT — ■ [from our own correspondent} HAMILTON, Wednesday Plans for the removal of Garden Place hill and the formation of a business square on the site, on a level '« with Victoria Street, were submitted; to the Hamilton Borough Council ► to- , night by a committee consisting of Messrs. iff. D. Caro, deputy-Mayor, H. M. Hammond. J. E. Tidd. the town ■ clerk, Mr. W. L. "Wad del/ and the ? ; borough engineer, Mr. R. Worley. The committee advised that tlje costs involved in the removal of the hill, the formation of the proposed streets, parks, and gardens, and the purchase of the. necessary lands, would total 1 £88.446. . < The estimated resale values j of portions of the area and the improvements effected were given at £91,824. * In addition there would be betterment values on certain areas not estimated by the valuers, and the estimated rentals of £385 to be derived from the houses to be removed. Of the estimated expenditure of. , * say, £89,000,. direct wages would account for £20,794. Advice had been received from the Labour Department that a subsidy at the rate of £2 5s per man per week would be paid on the removal work. The men would be paid standard wages for a 40-hour week. The work was estimated to occupy 15 months. . , , , r "There can be no shadow of doubt »' as to the wisdom of the proposal," reported the committee. It referred to ~ the present congestion in Victoria * Street, and the need for adequate parking places within reasonable reach of the centre of the town. The possible , rating burden was nothing compared with the loss of prospective profits and employment due to the greater trade '' J that would unquestionably follow in the d. wake of increased facilities. The com- -» mittce recommended that a loan auth- ~ ority for £89,000 should be sought. There was a lengthy discussion on the report, the majority of the council > approving of it. Messrs. C. Laffertv and W. W. Dillicar opposed the scheme, while Mr. A. K. Den?: said all he was << concerned about was that the scheme d should be put fully before the rate- •/< payers before the loan proposal was ■ submitted to them. Mr. R. McCaw emphasised the point that the revenue 'on the land would exceed the proposed expenditure. - , ; The committee was congratulated on the report and it was decided to receive it and consider its adoption at the next meeting.