BOROUGH PROJECTS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 75, Issue 6442, 5 November 1947, Page 6

BOROUGH PROJECTS

MORE ‘TUSH" NEEDED VIEWS OF PROMINENT RATEPAYERS Thp following observations on. matters of importance to ratepayers and residents generally of the borough have been supplied by a reader who has taken a practical experience in borough affairs for many years past. He stated that the new water supply is most imperative, as it affects housing, sewerage and all activities of the town. Water is a commodity greatly in demand and it is profitable to sell, being in demand for the present and future industrial activities which it is safe to assume will increase. If pipes are at present unprocurable that factor should be the greater reason for the immediate start of the proposed plan. To conserve finances it might be possible to have an engineer (local or otherwise) and the plan could be carried out usder borough supervision. While the additional sewerage facilities were under way the scheme should be pushed ahead without further delay. Dealing with housing it is claimed that the growth of the town is definitely being retarded by the shortage of houses. The incoming Council should use a very endeavour available to further the building of more houses. They should also apply for any further war material that might be available, even if a further loan is required. Every additional ratepayer becomes a consumer of goods and consequently will help in carrying the load of repayment. Turning to the concreting of footpaths, the observer says that many ratepayers would gladly co-operate if the position as regards subsidies were more generally known. A permanent improvement would induce householders to keep their frontages in order and would save the annual cost of cutting the grass and would remove the present unsightly ajmearance of many of the frontages. Two streets that deserve special attention are Mahoe Street and Park Road.

The Beautifying Society is a very worthy institution, and it probably cost £2 for £1 from the public, that being a donation from the borough, and it has contributed a lot of free labour which is resulting in a greatly improved appearance of the town, a factor which is a decided attraction for new ratepayers. The Mangahoe River Bank is an asset that is not realised by many ratepayers. The possibilities of improving that area are untold. The Basketball Association are anxious to blaze the trail in that direction, and they should be given every encouragement. Thousands of pounds have been spent on the Pirongia Mountain afforestation scheme, and the further development should be investigated. It is worthy of being controlled by a special committee who should work in conjunction with the Borough Council and Pirongia Afforestation Committees. The provision of more lavatory accommodation at Albert Park is another matter that should engage the attention of the incoming Council. There are other matters that should be given thought, but the above is but an outline of some of the more important phases of borough activities that demand attention.