BETTER STREETS

Southland Times, Issue 18990, 11 July 1923, Page 6

BETTER STREETS

DISCUSSION AT TOWN COUNCIL. INVERCARGILL’S NEEDS. The recommendations made by the Public Works Committee, to the Town Council, with regard to street improvements and involving an expenditure of £32,000, came before the Council last evening. In moving the adoption of the recommendations, Councillor Webb stated that he was in favour of the use of bitumen, which gave more lasting service than distilled tar. Though the latter was cheaper, it did not have the lasting qualities necessary. The maintenance of roads was nowadays a costly matter, and a good deal of the money spent was wasted. There was no proper system so far as he could see for dealing with the streets and the patchwork policy which had been carried out in the past, was anything but satisfactory. The only solution would be to properly construct the road and to do that it was necessary to raise a loan. The saving in maintenance charges that would result would pay a large proportion of the expenses involved in the way of interest, etc. When the loan was being placed before the ratepayers it would be necessary to take the ratepayers fully into their confidence and let them know what it was going to cost, whether or not an increase in the rates would be involved. It was just possible that they would be able to carry out the programme now proposed without any increased rates. If the ratepayers were given the full details he was sure it-would go a long way towards carrying the proposals at the poll; it would be a great pity if it were turned down on that account. The financing of road formation was one of the most difficult problems throughout the whole world at the present time. He was convinced that the Engineer’s proposals were the most satisfactory that could be acted on locally. Councillor Farrant agreed with the proposals made, but said he believed there was a danger of the ratepayers not being sympathetic enough towards doing the work outlined, for the reason that only the principal streets were mentioned. Those, however, interested in the development of the town, would give it their support and, as for the Council, not one would question the recommendations. He thought a more acceptable proposal to the ratepayers as a whole would be to make the scheme more extensive and, for example, include all the intervening streets between Dee, Kelvin and Conon streets. Councillor Meek endorsed Councillor Farrant’s views with regard to the effect of such a limited scheme of street improvement on the ratepayers when all the streets required attention. He would like the public to understand that the Council was not merely going to attend to the main streets, but the roads generally. It might be advisable to get authority to borrow a larger sum of money, say £BO,OOO, to raise it as it was required from time to time. The Mayor stated that the matter had been before the Council for some considerable time past, and had to be considered along with the by-laws for heavy traffic. One of the reasons for getting the proposals now brought forward, was in the hope that they would be able to get a subsidy from the Main Highways Board recently set up. That, of course, would occupy some time, and if they succeeded in getting a subsidy the loan would not be so large. Before the loan, however, was placed the ratepayers for their approval, he could assure everyone that all the information it was possible to get would accompany the Council’s request to the ratepayers. To assist in putting the matter through, he would, personally, be preparecl to take the platform to explain the whole position. “I think,” he said, “it is absolutely necessary that something should be done as soon as possible because there is no question that the roads in the main portion of the town are in a disgraceful state, and the patching they get is simply throwing money away. I think the saving in maintenance and the amount to be derived from the motor tax, which We will bring forward later, will practically cover interest charges on this amount. If we can show the ratepayers that, they will, I believe, support our proposals, otherwise I feel like some of the Councillors that a larger schedule will only be turned down.” Councillor Glass suggested that the Council should adopt every, means possible to educate the public through the press and otherwise as to the necessity for a comprehensive and permanent street improvement policy. He was certain if this were done, the public would give the question full consideration.

The recommendations of the Committee were then adopted unanimously.