THE BOROUGH DRAINAGE AND OTHER LOAN PROPOSALS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2408, 25 January 1909, Page 5

THE BOROUGH DRAINAGE AND OTHER LOAN PROPOSALS .

[To the Editor.] -hs -a ratepayer find resident ot tins town of some 20 odd Years,may I be permitted to use your'space for some remarks on the above proposals. I think in submitting these proposals the Council is courting defeat by tlie economy of information which has been practised. Every ratepayer, small or large, will reudilv agree that these three suggested municipal undertakings are greatly needed in this town, but before sanctioning the schemes going to the •101 lit is only reasonable that tha ratepayers should be given the fullest information as to the maimer in which the money is to be expended-. -My remarks on this head will not apply to the drainage scheme, but to the other two, i.e., street improvement and recreation ground loans. It- is proposed to (1) borrow £41,390 (a tremendous sum.) for forming, metalling, and improving an advertised list of streets in the borough. No further information is given. Before asking the ratepayers to sanction a poll for this work, it is only reasonable to ask by what- methods ire the said streets proposed to be dealt with. -Do the Council propose to immediately start upon this work themselves, or by contract; or is it proposc'd to do the' work piecemeal bv the same methods as hitherto employed in the formation of our streets? Have they defined any scheme at all vet ? Is part of the money set apart for Gladstone Road, Peel Street, Lowe Street, and Read's Quay to he devoted to laying these streets down in tarred macadam? Is modern road making machinery to be obtained? All these questions need un answer from the Council before they can expect to receive the authority of the ratepayers. Now iu regard to the ''creation grounds. I have no doubt many think this an absurd proposit:oiu but it is a problem that may as well be tackled now as later ou. We are sidlv off in the matter of mblic parks 'in this town, mainly by tlie lack of foresight of past members -;f local bodies, and 1 hope this scheme will go to the poll. Before this, however. can be expected, the Council jlunild supply the public with their intentions, if they know what they •tie. I think instead of putting the whole list jointly for approval, each respective undertaking should be voted for separatolv. for some are us vague as possible.- Take for instance the items recreation grounds.. Kaiti £2OOO, and AYhataupoko £2OOO. No me has any idea where these proposed -grounds are to be obtained, or bow much of the money is to be retained for improving them, or will it their area will be. or anything else about- them. 1 suppose we must trust ?u revives, if the loan is agreed upon, t<> tin* good sense of the Council, but [ maintain that if the Council has th,* details of those schemes m hand, and surely they must have. they should be published so that ratepayers will not be taking «>«!> >n the dark. Now. Sir. 1 have just biouglit these few minor details to light as it seems to mo to be important they should be treated with and considered at to-night's meeting.—l ani^etm,