WAIKATO COUNTY LOAN

Waikato Times, Volume 120, Issue 19942, 20 July 1936, Page 6

WAIKATO COUNTY LOAN

The loan proposal to be submitted to the ratepayers in the Waikato County to-morrow is based on the necessity for providing roads and bridges capable of carrying modern trafi‘lc. The wonderful changes that have taken place in road transport of recent years quickly showed that the old road, made of crushed metal, could not stand up to the rapid and heavy traffic and the problem of main~ tenance has been a diflicult one for the local authorities. It has been shown, in many parts of the Dominion, that the annual charges and maintenance of a properly constructed roud, built to meet mod~ crn conditions. are together less than the cost of keeping the old class ot‘ road in reasonable repair, and, of course, there is no compnrisou, from the user's point of view, a tar-sealed road enabling substantial savings to be made. The \\'aikuto County Council has decided to adopt a progressiie policy, spreading the work over a period, and it intends, with the approval of the ratepayers and the departmental authorities, to raise the, money only when it is nctuully required. This will reduce the interest charges proportionately, and should enable the council to effect economies in other directions. The loan must, of course, be secured by a rate. but it is anticipated that the annual charges will be met out of the ordinary revenue of the council. There is Illlll‘ll to be suid in favour of a construction policy spread over a period of yours. and that course. should have the endorsement of the nutllnl‘liik‘S in \\'ellington. Other local bodies in this part of the Dominion have adopted it with success. Everyone recognises thut the chance in the construction of the roads must be made. \\'hnt .sm'yi'tl otliriontly the needs of past years will not do to-dny and the etl‘ori to make old roads suitable for modern traffic is proving lllt‘l't‘:l>lll_‘_{l)' costly. The ratepnyers have been fully informed of the intentions of the council. and it is to be hoped thut they will take the opportunity to show the members ot.‘ that body that they enjoy the confidence of tho rosiih-ms ot' the county. The value of the work undertaken by those engugod in llH‘tll government is too often overlooked, yet the marked improveuu-nt in road communication recorded in the past few years is largely due to the practical constructive efforts; of these local bodies. It would encourage the members of the county Council if the ratepayers- took advantage of the opportunity that will be ut't'ordt-d them to morrow by endorsing this proposal to improve the roads in the \\'uiknto t‘ounty.