TAR SEALING REQUESTED

Southland Times, Issue 23969, 8 November 1939, Page 2

TAR SEALING REQUESTED

CITY STREETS AND FOOTPATHS COUNCIL’S ATTITUDE TO RATEPAYERS CRITICIZED Several requests to have streets and footpaths tar sealed were considered by the Invercargill City Council at its meeting last night. The secretary of the Southland Hospital Board wrote asking that the sealing of Gala street to Leven street be carried out. On the recommendation of the Works Committee it was decided that this part of the street be sealed at an estimated cost of £lOO.

The secretary of the Southland Boys’ and Girls High Schools Board asked if the council could take some action about the sealing of Forth street. It was decided to inform the writer that this street was on the list of streets to be sealed and that it was possible the work might be carried out next season. ELLES ROAD FOOTPATH A clause in the committee’s report stated: “Mr H. Church, 54 Elies road, had written to Cr Wachner, on behalf of neighbours and himself, asking for an ashphalt footpath in front of their residences on the east side of Elies road, near Otepuni Creek. The city engineer reported that the council had previously declined to put a surfaced path there as a good one already exists on the western side of the road.” The committee recommended that there was no monetary provision for .the work at present but that the matter would be considered when next year’s estimates were being formed. Cr Wachner protested at the attitude shown by the council to ratepayers who wrote and pointed out necessary work in the city. He referred to the deplorable condition of some of the footpaths and said that people were ricking their ankles on uneven surfaces which should have been attended to long ago. “There is not sufficient domestic work carried out in the city,” he declared, “If a ratepayer writes in and makes a request he is turned down, but money can be found for the purchase of machinery and other equipment.” Cr A. W. Jones suggested that the clause should be referred back to the committee with power to have the work done. He mentioned the dangerous condition of Elies road from Tay street to Tweed street, and said that it was so rough that road-users were avoiding that road. The committee would be surprised, he added, at the amount. of money which had been spent in patching up Elies road. It was time the road was put in proper condition. The recommendation of the committee was adopted.