The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1911.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3198, 20 April 1911, Page 4

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, APRIL 20, 1911.

Mayor’s Annual Report.

No doubt ratepayers will find much to interest ' them in the Mayor’s review of the municipal year which has just ended. Of its many salient features there is none, we think, that is more important than that relating to the expenditure of the loan moneys. Briefly stated, £16,307 has been expended out of the £60,500 allocated in respect of the sewerage scheme. "With regaid to temporary advances for house connections, £294 has been spent out of the £IO,OOO set apart for the purpose. As To the electric light and power vote of £16,142, the amount used so far is £770. Towards the AYaimata river bridge, for which £4950 has been allocated, £145 has been expended. The projected tram sendee, which was estimated to cost £25,000, has already swallowed up £7524. For further street formation and metalling £17,323 out of the £35,000 to be used for that purpose has been utilised. Then again, £4515 out cf £6500 so voted has been spent on the recreation grounds. "With reference* to the item “waterworks reservoir and reticulation,” it- will be found that £3740 out of £II,OOO has been expended. For interest £1402 was needed out of £5908 available. It will thus be seen that out of the total loan of £175,000 there now remains but £122,976. As to whether full value has been received for every pound of the £52,023 so far utilised is, we feel, a matter which ought to be thoroughly investigated at the present juncture Up till now the difficulty has been that no definite data has been available on the ‘ point. Not infrequently of late, it will be recalled, the present method of carrying out the sewerage works ; for instance, by day labor has been severely criticised. AVith Mr. Lysnar and many others we have already contended that if it is desired to obtain as much, work as possible for the moneys to be expended, the contract system should be adopted wherever practicable. No one, we think, can believe that in respect of some of the undertakings sufficient moneys have been allocated. It will thus be seen how important it is that if moneys aro being wasted as a result of the present system of undertaking the works, it should not be allowed to continue a day longer than, is necessary. When Mr. Marchant was in Gisborne some weeks ago lie made it quite clear, it will be remembered, that the sewerage l ' works should most certainly be carried out under the contract system. Mr. Lysnar, whilst supporting this view, appeared to be confident, however, that, even at that stage, the a mount allocated would prove adequate. What does he now say? It is patent that he feels that a bad start lias been made, and, what is more, be quotes figures in regard to the cost of sewerage work done in other towns, which makes the cost with regard to the. local undertaking unduly high. But there are other projects which we believe will involve the ratepayers in much greater expenditure than they have ever anticipated. AVe venture to say, for instance, that if Mr. Lysnar’s proposals as regards the projected tramway scheme are adopted, they will ultimately cost the borough a pretty penny. Wliat is the present position? Already several thousand pounds’ worth of rails are to hand, and the ordering of further material is contemplated, although the .system to be adopted lias yet to be finally decided, and an awkward matter in the shape of unsatisfactory bridges has still, to be faced. As a result of the muddle that has taken place in this regard, it will, we fear, be some considerable time before the materials to hand represent a re-venue-producing asset-. Then, again, the question of street improvements is one ! which', at this juncture should not be lost sight of by the ratepayers. In this regard half "the available moneys have been spent, and how little, comparatively, there is to show for the expenditure. • No doubt, as Mr. Lysnar remarks in his report, the taking of the. money for, the construction of

the Patutalii tramway out of the street loan sadly reduced tlie item. : But we do not agree with him whem he says that a specific loan should have ••been, sought in respect of the tramline. If the construction of this work had been delayed it would, of course, have thrown back the whole scheme of street improvements. What has not been, fully appreciated in some quarters, we think, is the fact that it would have been better to have asked the ratepayers, to sanction more money for street improvements, and to have deferred in the meantime, say, the 'question of trams. It will undoubtedly be the position when the loan moneys for street improvements have been expended that many of the thoroughfares will still be in a disgraceful condition. As to the water-supply • question, the restoration of the headworks is clearly essential, and should be undertaken as soon as the necessary money can be authorised. In view of the fact that the municipal elections arc pending, we therefore trust that due prominence will be given to this important question of the expenditure of loan moneys.