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Dunstan Times, Issue 984, 25 February 1881, Page 2

So many mis statements have been circulated respecting the proposed County bam, that we cannot too often or too strongly seek to impress upon the ratepayers that the Council has no power to raise a loan without their consent hat ing first heea obtameil by :ip 4biacile—a general vole, iu fact, requiring a majority of at least one fifth greater than the votes against it. The oniy question,- therefore, for cue Council to consider is tv he.her they will allow the ratepayers to h-ve a voice in the matter, ami it is this, anti notkimj more , that the council will have Co uecida at me next meeting, it is net easy to uuderataua the “ways that aie daik, and tricks .hat are vang” of certain Councillors who arc striving to justify their action iu opposing the submission ot the question to the ratepayers. Assuredly those who pay have a right to be consulted in this matter, ami that is all that is asked for. Into the me its of the question wu shall

not eater until and umtss this right is conceded hy the Couucil ; except to say that if road-wdrks are to he uiamtaiued money must he raised hy a loan. One other matter we will refer to. An erroneous impression has hoeu created that, in the eve.it of a loan being raised, additional taxation v> ill he uec.-seary, This is altu o etner wio»g. The County Council has uo power to le.y any larger rate lhau is how levied. They ate iea trie ted hy the Counties Act frofn doing So. The raising ot a loan therefore simply means a temporary lorestalnug of the revenue ; aud the establishment ut a sinking lund, as provideo hy the Act, will euame the aiuouht to he paid old hy ahuual instalments exten,ang over a lean of years, so as to be little felt ur missed from the ordinary expenditure.