THE ALEXANDER PROPERTY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17478, 24 January 1919, Page 4

THE ALEXANDER PROPERTY.

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Referring to my previous letter on this subject, in which I stated that it would probably take live years to erect shops and buildings on this property and get them let to bring in sufficient revenue to make it self-supporting, I notice Mr. Mackay says it can'be done in two years. If this is so, the cost will he very high at the present cost of building, as it would have to be 'commenced at once, as further loans for buildings would have to be •raised, la this case the whole proposal should, have been put to the ratepayers at one time, as now, if the loan for the purchase is carried, the ratepayers will, be told "Now you must vote for another loan to erect buildings on this land, as it will not pay to keep it idle." To carry out the whole,of I»lr. Mackay's proposal, I viz., a block of three-storey shops, a Town Hall and up-to-date Theatre, will involve another loan of £80,000 to £100,000. With a ten million war loan to be raised soon, it may be very difficult to raise large loans at any rate—the interest will he high— as i notice the British Government is raising loans now at 5 per cent in England. If the loan could not be got cheaply, the scheme is not a good one, as at the present time there are empty shops and one shut up theatre in the tovn.

I think a moderate street and footpath improvement loan would be a much better policy for the ratepayers, to be distributed over different parts of the Borough. The Works committee could go over the whole district and schedule the moat necessary works. A tramway extension to St. John's Hill would tend to advance the town much more than shops, which are hardly a thing the Borough should undertake, |to my mind. Some more tram cars are also required much more than theatres. I certainly think it is not jgood policy to increase the Borough debt to such a large amount for a speculative proposal of this - kind, when we may need to borrow for necessary works, etc. An electric lighting service in the town would be a great boon both for shops and dwellings, and is much preferable to gas, with the constant' renewal of mantles and the heat generated. In conclusion, I say, let us have something useful before buildings (to show to visitors. —I am, etc.,

H. E. DYMOCK,

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —I note by to-day's "Chronicle" a letter by Mr. Mackay advocating the purchase of the Alexander block of land, bounded by the Avenue, Ingestre and Wicksteed Streets, for municipal buildings, Town Hall, etc. In the same issue, by another, it is suggested that these buildings be erected where the band rotunda is now placed in Queen's Park, and I ttiink this latter suggestion excellent. A handsome, lofty tower with electric lift, to a handsome Town Hall would be a landmark in. the town and would be a source of revenue from visitors and others wishing to get a near view of the town and river from the bridge to the Heads and up to Aramoho. The Museum, Municipal Buildings, Town Hall, Library and Art Gallery can easily be built on the Queen's Park Reserve without running the ratepayers into heavier taxation. If I remember rightly, Mr. Mackay once said the rates would not increase during his term of office, but although he has not raised the taxation rate per pound he has raised the valuation, which has nearly doubled the amount — within the last few years—of what we paid formerly. Had we obtained value for our heavy rates perhaps some of us would have been Inclined to support any proposals to purchase more borough land, but the Toads, footpaths, water tables, water supply (especially on Durie Hill) and other Borough works have been sadly neglected ever since,Mr. Mac•kay has been Mayor. I never admired some of the late Mr. Hatrick's methods when Mayor of Wanganui, but he was progressive without making the ratepayers suffer unduly, and I think I am right in saying that it was a bad day for the ratepayers when we turned him out of the Mayoral chair. However, it is now our duty to protect ourselves by turning down the proposal to spend many thousands upon a town mall site' while there is ample Borough sites available. ' What is against erecting the Municipal Buildings, etc., on present site.and put the yards where they have the tar-mix-ing, gravel screening plant sheds, 'etc' (next to Opera House) over near the Tram Sl^eds? They have 17 'acres there, and this site could be used with advantage in more ways than one. ANOTHER RATEPAYER.

' (To the Editor.) Sir, —i read with very great interest your leading article on. the question of turning down the Ale*ander site proposal at the poll to be taken shortly. I wonder if Mayor fMackay and his councillors in favour purchasing this expensive property would mind,taking a walk say, from Wilson Street and Guyton Street to the Hospital, and then give us ratepayers a hundred or two pounds on decent footpaths. From Churton Street into Ridgway Street iis a disgrace to a village, but for a town pf our size it is beyond words. No rojad in the back blocks could out-do this, as I see it year in and year out. Why, sir, even the grass is not removed from the gutter bb■tween. Wilson Street and Churton Street. Then, again, is there another town of our size that allows stock to be driven through -the streets, aye, even on a Sunday afternoon, when visitors are going to the hospital? I notice in Palmerston North, Feilding, and Hawera, flngeiposts showing drovers the stock roads, but Wanganui has nothing. Nor does the Borough Council trouble. As I said above, if Mr. Mack ay would take a walk along these footpaths on a wet day it would open his eyes. From every gate he would find a track right on to the centre of the road. It is impossible to use the paths owing to the state of them with stock. That is in the dry weather, but. in the wet, aye even, after light rain, we are obliged to use the centre of the road, or wu might get stuck or slip on the clay. The cemetery is grossly neglected at our end —tarred road for wool-

carting and motorists, and patha such as I have explained, for the ratepayers. The same style of "footpath" continues to Murray's Foundry. There is a report that a change all round is coming. Well, sir, I really think it is time, too. I see, by the way, that Mayor Mackay tries to make good by answering. Mr. iDavid McParlane's telling letter. 'But perhaps the Mayor is going tc saddle another mayor with this expensive site. The question is: How much longer are we going to pad the hoof before we get a decent foot•path, or are we going to be saddled •with another rate, with ,the heavy burden we have already got to shoulder? I remember speaking to the late Mr. Alexander Hatrick,, I think about the time a Ratepayers' Association was being talked of, and 'he explained to me how our fine little town could be almost rate free, yet year by year Mayor Mackay keeps on bumping the rates up^, and so it will go on till we have a change. I shall certainly vote against the proposal at the poll. Your able leader, and sound business men who are backing you up, are enough for me.—Youre etc. " ' ; .

A RATEPAYER;