{April 4, 1914 – New Zealand Herald] A meeting of the ratepayers of Mount Albert was held in the Jubilee Hall, Kingsland, last night, to consider the question of the raising of the proposed £50,000 loan for the borough. The hall was crowded. Mr. M. J. Coyle, Mayor of Mount Albert, occupied the chair, and with him on the platform were members of the Mount Albert Borough Council.
Mr. Coyle explained the detailed improvements which would be carried out by means of the loan if it were sanctioned. The individual items of the proposed allocations have been published. Mr. Coyle said it was desired that the tramway system should be carried right through from Morningside to Mount Albert. A sum of £8750 was provided in the allocations for the formation of the New North Road, from Morningside to Mount Albert. The extension of the tramway system along this part of the road would be of great benefit to the district. The council was agitating for a double line to go into the Mount Albert part of the district, and the manager of the Tramways Company, Mr. J. J. Walklate, had intimated that although no definite decision had been arrived at as to whether a single or a double line would be laid, it could almost be said that it would be a double line. (Hear, hear.) Even if the tramlines were not laid the work of putting the road in order would be well worth the expenditure of the money. The interest on the cost of the laying of the tramway would be only £40 a year, and the Tramways Company would have to keep almost a mile of road in repair for 33 years.
Another matter reverted to by Mr. Coyle was the question of water supply in the borough. This, he said, was extremely important, for without a good water supply, progress in the borough would cease. They proposed to borrow £7600 to reticulate the district, and it was absolutely necessary to do this.
The Mayor touched upon other items which were dealt with in the allocations, amongst these being the provision of a stone-crusher, road roller, the tarring and sanding of the roadway from Dominion Road to Morningside, and the repaying of the overdraft of the general account. A sum of £20,000 had been set aside for the latter purpose.
The ratepayers were asked to vote £700 for the fire brigade. This would include the purchase of a motor reel. With the balance it had been proposed to erect two sub-stations, but since then the council had been informed that fire alarm boxes could be installed at the rate of £25 per mile. Consequently, it was now thought better to have one main station, to which eight alarm boxes would be connected, instead of having two sub-stations built. Electric indicators in the main station would show any locality where a fire might be in progress. In reply to some heated remarks by one of those present, Mr. Coyle said the special rates were being considerably reduced every year.
A Voice : The wrong -way. (Laughter.) The Mayor: Well, they are! (Renewed laughter.)
Another ratepayer asked what attitude the council would take up if the proposals were not carried by the ratepayers.
Mr. Coyle: It is not always wise to give away family secrets. If the loan is not carried the council can do as they like. If you turn the loan down you will be doing an exceedingly foolish thing. Turn me down if you like, but don’t turn down the loan.
A number of questions were asked by those present, and before the meeting closed a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Coyle for having explained the proposals.