APATHETIC RATEPAYERS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1061, 25 February 1911, Page 5

APATHETIC RATEPAYERS.

SMALL VOTING ON A LOAN PROPOSAL. . (Br Telecrasb-Prtsu Association.) V ' • imrtroarsllli February 24. A poll of ratepayers was taken to-day oil' tho proposal .'to raise a special loan of £52,000, including £16,291 for street and drainage work, £3124 for street widening, i' 1535 for boautifjing Waihopai ana reserves, £3000 foi, land and plant at tho corporation quarry, £4750 tor firo brigade plant, land and buildirgs, £800 for underground conveniences. £10,830 for harbour reclamation, £4120 for jetty and approach, and £700 for gas works, plant and extension. An outstanding feature of tho poll was tho small public interest taken in 'it, and at 2 p.m. there were less than 140. votes recorded. Ono of tho eight polling places at 1 p.m. had not recorded a •single rote. In tho afternoon, however, a section of tho ratepayers 'appears to - havo remembered the circumstanco of tlio loan, and tho poll clerks were given just enough work to counteract tho languorous effect of tho heat. In all, out of 3959 ratepayers on tho roll 481 recorded their votes. Tho result, announced,at 7.30 p.m. to a bare twenty people, was: 325 votes for tho proposal',and. 155 against, thero being ono mforir.nl vote.