LOAN PROPOSALS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 55, Issue 3929, 21 July 1937, Page 7

LOAN PROPOSALS

FOR SEWERAGE EXTENSION AND CONCRETE FOOTPATHS. DETAILS NOT DECIDED YET. Commenting at the Borough Council meeting on Monday evening, his Worship the Mayor said that he and Cr. J. C. Monteflore had met the acting Minister of Public Works at Hamilton last week. The Minister said the Government wanted to place in employment all men at present on sustenance. The period of ■ work under the scheme was four months. Local bodies were asked to indicate how many men could be employed, but it was found that only four men were available for Te Awamutu borough and three for Waipa County. That was disappointing, in view of the Te Awamutu Council's proposed loan expenditure. The Minister promised investigation and a reply within a fortnight. It was not correct to say the Government would pay £3 to the Council’s £1 for a £4 per week man; but there would be a wage subsidy. The allocation of four men was accepted, and they were to be employed almost at once. Men would be employed fully if the ratepayers sanction the loan for footpaths improvement.

The works foreman said he was informed the Health Department intends to force the Council to provide sewerage for the Bridgman Road area. It was mentioned that most of the sewerage loan' expenditure would be absorbed in sewering Pakura Street. The Mayor said there were dozens ot sewerage connections being made all over the town, and the cost had been borne out of general account, when rightly it should be a charge on the sewerage account. Of course it was .a question how the ratepayers would view the loan proposals. Cr Rainey thought the loan should be £5OOO for sewerage. If necessary a further loan could be sought to do the additional sewering further out. The Mayor, referring to the footpath loan, said it would be necessary to purchase a concrete mixer and a road roller, out of the loan money. Boflh were necessary to make a proper job of the undertaking. The amount of the loan was dependent on the amount of the Government subsidy on wages of the men employed. Cr Rainey mentioned that the scheme brought down by Cr Montepore was to concrete all the footpaths in the borough for a width of seven feet.

It was decided to defer a decision until the reply is received from the Hon. p. C. Webb, acting Minister of Public Works.