PROPOSED, £60,000 LOAN.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4478, 4 October 1901, Page 5

PROPOSED, £60,000 LOAN.

IMMEDIATE FLOTATION REJECTED

Councillor Nathan moved at last night’s meeting of the City Council, ‘"that the sanction of tbe ratepayers be immediately sought and obtained to the raising of a loan of sixty thousand pounds for street works improvement, as authorised by the Council on the 22nd August, 1901.”'The mover said he had taken this step ’because of the peculiar attitude taken up by some of the Councillors when discussing a proposal to improve Lambton quay, footpath. If Councillors were earnest in their desire to put their streets in order, the ratepayers would help them, and the work might as well be undertaken at once. Councillor Devine said ho had all along opposed discussing matters of this kind in camera, but in the present case Councillors had thought it bettor to hold back- until the Miramar question had been disposed of. Ho considered, however, that the time was ripe for the work to be undertaken once and for. all. Their income was on such a diminishing scale that there was less revenue for works year by year. After tbe streets had been put. in order, it would exhaust all their revenue for their up-kcop afterwards. Councillor Luke said that besides consideration for the Miramar scheme the Council had been actuated by other motives in deciding temporarily to shelve the question of streets. They felt that it would probably 'be necessary in connection- with the now train way scheme not" only to., cut up the roads in lay mg the linns. but also to convoy the electric lighting and telegraph wires underground. They felt that when the work was undertaken the whole thing should be done at once, so as to avoid unnecessary expenditure. Another reason - for delay was a desire to consult the wishes of their electrical engineer. Councillor Barber said if the Council had done its duty the work would have been done by this time. The present state of the footpaths made tins public doubt tbe Council’s administrative competency so much that every schon&o brought down was looked upon with suspicion.

• Councillor Winder said if they went on heaping up taxation 'Wellington would be a good place to live out of.

. Councillor Smith said ho would bo in favour of a loan, but the time was not yet ripe. Councillor Nathan, in reply, said the question of the electric wire's was never raised'when the Council decided on the loan for streets. To put this work olf for twelve months, after they had already been discussing it for two years, with the probability of its not being completed for another four or five vears, was absurd. The streets should be put in proper order once"'and for all, and then they would not have to bo con. tinually sweeping them away and throwing them, into the sea.

Tim motion was rejected by four votes to seven, the mover ■ and Councillors Barber,- Devine and Godber voting for