LOAN PROPOSALS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 45, Issue 13988, 26 November 1919, Page 6

LOAN PROPOSALS.

EXPLAINED BY THE MAYOE,

There was an attendance of 28 persons, including several councillors and borough oiUciais, at the meeting in the Municipal Hall last evening, at which tlu- Mayor explained the borough loan proposals.

The Mayor stated that the meeting was called to enable them to hear explanations regarding the loan proposals to be placed before them. The present Council was elected to devise and carry out progressive proposals. The loan proposals were progressive ones. He was sure that Masterton did not wish their councillors to become Eip 'Vau Winkles. He was sure that the people of Mastertou did not want, Hamilton, Hawera and Hastings to outstrip Masterton. "With the exception of the protective works loan, the rest of the loan money would be spread over a period of years; about one-fifth of the bigger loan money would be spent every year. The gasworks loan of £27,000 was' for enlarging and extending the gasworks ,in keeping with the requirements of the present day. The gasworks loan would include the purchasing of the necessary land for a railway siding. The present gasworks had been constructed to give a maximum output of 50,000,----000 cubic feet per annum, and the output to-day was (50,000,000 cubic feet. If the works were not enlarged there was a danger of a breakdown. The introduction of electricity would not be detrimental, to gas. The popular idea that electricity would replace gas for lighting, cooking, etc., was erroneous.

In spite of its splendid hydro-electric installation, Christchurch was spending £50,000 hi extending its gasworks—and it was there that current was the Cheapest in New Zealand. In England 20,----000,000 tons of coal were used last year for gas, and a little over 7,000,000 tons for electricity. The present capacity of the Mastertou gasworks was totally inadequate for the requirements of today, and more so as far as the future was concerned. It was absolutely imperative that the gasworks should bo enlarged and brought light up-to-date. Modern machinery was necessary to deal adequately with the coal and coke at the gasworks. Modern plant would also allow the- making of more gas than there would be under ordinary circumstances. A better plant would mean that they would obtain better and more gas from 7;"> tons of coal than at present is obtained from 100 tons. Another gas-holder was absolutely necessary as a safeguard; there was nothing to fall, hack on in the event of the present plant being damaged by, .say, an earthquake. It was absolutely necessary also to provide an up-to-date purifying plant to do away with the most objectionable smell associated with the present gas supply. The badly purified gas was also detrimental to house pap-e-i's, scrim, etc. It may not be necessary to collect the proposed gas rate. "You need not fear that your rates will go up as far as the gasworks loan is concerned, ■*•-' said the Mayor.

Mr J. W. Blackmail briefly explained the position in regard to the gasworks, and referred to the proposed improvements, details of whicli have already appeared in the Daily Times. ,

In reply to a question asked by Mr Berriman, the Mayor stated that if the gas loan were carried there would be no. increase in the price of gas —rather would it be in the opposite direction.

The 'proposal to form and channel footpaths was the most inrpovtant to the whole of the borough, said the Mayor. The lack of proper channels was a danger and menace to the whole of the residents of the borough from a health point of view. Ho "was sure that the citizens of Maslerton did not wish to take second place to Hawera, which had completely curbed and channelled all its streets,' after having carried a loan for this purpose. Masterton had the nest roads for vehicular traffic in the North'lsland. It -would be the women and children of the borough who use the footpaths who would benefit if the proposals in regard to the completion of the footpaths and channelling were carried. The present state of the unformed and unchannelled footpaths of Masterton was a real danger to the users of such streets. There was nothing more urgent in Masterton than the completing of the- footpaths and channels of the borough. Mr Jackson also referred to the proposal to take land for a new street running from Queen street to Chapel street, which was a matter of vital importance.

A little discussion took place in regard to the grouping of the loans, one or t\vo speakers, including Mr Berrimnn, contending that the inclusion of the new street would tend to kill the whole of the proposals.

The Mayor then explained the river bank protection work loan proposal, and strongly commended it to the ratepayers as a very important and necessary work. This work was to be in concrete and was to be the beginning of a promenade. In order to protect the town from serious damage as the result of river encroachment, it was absolutely necessary that this loan should be sanctioned. The Mayor concluded by urging the ratepayers to vote for the loan proposals.

On the motion of Mr Berriman, seconded by Mr J. Caselberg, the Mayor was accorded a hearty vote of thanks for his .explanation of the loan proposals.