RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4394, 27 June 1901, Page 5

RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION

At tho meeting of the Ratepayers ’Association this week letters were read from the City Council stating that the money required for the widening, of Fraser s lane and Willis street would be taken from the A 45,000 loan; also merely acknowledg. ing receipt of a number of resolutions drawing attention to serious waste of money in street _ works. The association "was not -satisfied . with the answers req/eived, and determined not to let the matter referred to rest there. A discussion took place on the proposal to raise a loan for wood blocking, aud the general feeling being that ’though this system might be the best, the project had not really received sufficiently minute con. sideration, it was decided to send the following letter to the City’Council “The Ratepayers’ Association respect* fully suggests to the City Council the desirability of -holding their hands with regard tn wood blocking certain thoroughfares till they havo satisfied themselves this is the best’and most economical form of treating the streets. It has been stat. ed in the public prints of Wellington by one writing with knowledge—and his statement has not so far been contradicted that wood paving is being abandoned in Europe in favour of other methods. An inspection, too, of some of the crossings in use in 'Wellington docs not convince one of its suitability—at any rate, in the form therein adopted. The association is aware that the ’loan having been author* ised. the Council is empowered to go on to execution of the work if they so desire, hut as fellow-ratepayers, presumably anxious to secure an adequate return for so largo a sum as .£55,000. the whole of which Will be an additional -burden on the city revenue, we put it to them that they should exhaust every inquiry, and satisfy themselves the money will be well invest, ed before filially committing themselves to the expenditure proposed. We should like to point out that the proposal was not by any means unanimously carried, and -that so large a vote was recorded against it that the Council mmlit fnirly take it as an indication more minute Consideration -should he given to the project than it has yet received.”