THE SOUTH DUNEDIN LOAN.

Evening Star, Issue 4238, 26 September 1876, Page 2

THE SOUTH DUNEDIN LOAN.

A meeting of the ratepayers of South Dunedin was held in the Forl.nry sclioolhouse last evening lo ■consider the undesirability of borrowing a further loan ot L 3,030. When the proceedings commenced, shortly before 8 p.m., there were about fifty persons present, but the attend nee was considerably increased when Crs Hodges, M'lutyre, and others entered the room. Mr Osmond was voted to the chair.

Mr Jas. Hardie said he had a resolution to propose which lie thought every ratepayer present would conear in. It was simply condemning vhe conduct of the Muyor and Town Council in passing a resolution to contract a further loan before bringing the matter before the ratepayers. He moved—- " That iu tho opinion of this meeting the Mayor ard Town Council have betrayed the confidence of the ratepayers in having led them to believe that the ratepayers would be consulted before borrowing money."—(Applause.) Mr Hartness seconded the resolution, which put. and after a lengthened pause, Cr. Babrowman said he did not thiuk it fair to t'.ie Council that the resolution should be nut to the meeting without some consideration. A number might be found t\> support it without knowing what the real facts of the case were. So far as tho Councillors' outraging rights and duties was concerned, they Lad not done so at all. Mr protested against Cr. Barrowman speaking on behalf of tb.9 Council. He was addressing them as a Councillor, and not as a ratepayer. Cr. Barrowman thought that, as a matter of commou fairness, they to hear whit he had to say in his own defence before condemning him. Mr Hartness thought that if Cr. Barrowman followed a course derogatory to his position, he should wait to be asked to give defence before voluuteering to do so.—(Dissent.) Cr. Barrowman i epiied that if he was not admissible there as a Councillor, he was as a ratepayer, and in the latter capacity he claimed the right to defend the Council, and that he ws in perfect order in doing so. The motion was a direct vote of censure upon tie Council for proposing to contract a loan of L 3.000 without muring the ratepayers aware of it. This was absurd, as the Council held its meetings in a public place accessible to the ratepayers; aud according to the Ordinance under which the municipality was orgam ed, notice was given at one meeting that the question of borrowing would be considered at a special meeting. At the special meeting the Council weat into the question of borrowing deliberately, and, as the mover of the resolution in favor of the loan, he considered he was performing a public duty iu endeavoring to obtain the loan for the purpose of increasing the comfort of the people on the Flat—(laughter)—of enhancing the value of property, and at the same time of givine a certain amount of empl on the Flat.—(Dissent and interruption.) He hoped the question would be fairly discussed. He claimed tlie ri>rht to speak, aud, if not allowed he must say that those present wore partial. As a councillor, beimr charged for his action—on his ti ial, in shorthe had a right to bo heard.—(Applause, and " Let tho man speak.") Hjha 1 stated that, if a requisition bigned by a respec able nun ber of ratepayers was presented to the Mayor askintr him to call a public meeting to have their views on the loan question heard, he was in duty bound to accede to their request. A requisition to that effect was lodged with the Mayor, but it was taken away again in order to ger, more names attached to it, aud was never returned. If the meeting said L 3,000 should not be borrowed, he was quite willing to respect that opinion; audin moving the resolution he had so stated his intention. The resolution brought forward, ii stead of objecting to the loan, was simply moved with the intention of rebuking the Council for the manner in which they attempted to borrow tho money. "When the proposal to borrow the loan came forward no protest was made. Mr Glass : Do you think it possible to get into the hole in which the Couucil holds its meetings ? Cr. Barrowman replie l that the meetings were removed to the place where they were held in conformity with a promise exacted during the election, that they should be held no longer in a public-house, and for this he was now censured. The proper ques tion before the meeting should be wero the Council to contract a loan, and if so, for what amount ? They could contract a loan up to L 5.000 on more advantageous terms than any small Municipality ; but when Abolition was effected they would not be able to contract a loan without going to Wellington before doing so. (A ratepayer: So much the better ) Well, if they thought so they must lie aud welter in the mud. He advised them to duly consider their own special benefit and welfare. There being n) amendment the motion was put and with approbation. Mj Habdie, as tho mover of the resolution, called the meeting's attention to the fact that the Mayor had refused to call a public meeting. How could they place confidence iu a Council which decided on borrowing a loan and then refused to call together a meeting of the ratepayers ? Mr Thomson differed with Cr. B*rrowman in his reading of the Abolition Act. He read it that if three-fifths of the ratepayers gave their consent they could borrow any sum of money. Mr P. K. Leyden considered it was not becoming in a Mayor that when a requisition was presented to him he should refuse to countenance it. Mr John Downib accused the Council of endeavoring to get the loan resolution passed in a secret war. The Council meetings were generally held at eight o'clock, but on this occasion the business was nearly over at that hour; and he contended that the Mayor had made arrangements for contracting tho loan before ever he entered the room, although the special business before the Council was to give him th.it power. Already they were L 2.000 in debt, and if another L 3.000 were borrowed one-half of it would be squandered before the year was out. Tho ratepayers were told that thoy were not in a position to pay their debts, and yet it was proposed to further tax them in order widen Maloney's road. They should endeavor to wipe off present liabilities before getting further into the mire. He was told by Cr. Barrowman that if he got a requi Hion signed by six ratepayers the Mayor would call a public meeting, but when it was presented to him the Mayor said there were not sufficient signatures. He (the speaker) then took it away, remarking ho would obtain 600 if necessary. He moved " That this meeting desires to express its surprise at the conduct of fhe Council in refusing to givo a detailed statement of its financial transactions since its formation." Although a motion was put forward for that purpose, it was lost, the reasons given against it, chiefly by the Mayor, being that it would entail too much trouble oa the Town The reason he moved the resolution was that he desired to see the balance-sheet in print,.so that all the ratepayers might see how their money was squandered.—(Laughter.) The resolution was seconded by Mr Wtbab. Mr Babrowman, who was received with mingled groans and hisses, said that the meeting referred to took place at the usual hour, and that it was half an-hour later before the resolution empowering the loan was brought forward. Tho Coun.il decided to print the balanco sheet, but it was found that ti:e ex];ens4 would be too great. A Eatepater : It would only cost 14s to print I 50J. (A Voice: Considerate Council, and laughter.) Mr Barrowman here wished to leave the room, but was stopped by Mr Glass, who claimed that as Mr Barrowman had addressed the meeting it was i only a matter of justice he shruld remain and answer question? put to him. Cb Rabbowman explained that he had an engagement to attend, He hid put himself about to attend the meeting, aud he begged they would let him away, as he had other busiuess te -.ttend to. A Eatepater : "Lock the door."—(lmmense uproar.) Cr. Barrowman : Eeally I mmt crave that you will let me go. Tuere are other Councillors present whom you can Mr Heffkbnan : Baoger.—(Great laughter.) M Glass : But yem ire one of the Fina-'ee Coramitre*, ;:u'l are :u a be.tcr positi •" t au-wenb.: ;■'"• ■' - -■ : 3 r. •.>-•■ * v.'i ci'.:.•:■ Finance Commit ;ee. Mr Glass: Buc Hodges ia a " new chum," «nd i will not do.—(Laughter.)

Cb. BiSBOWMiH complained that he btm\ spent an hour at t'ae mosting, and now lie was not allowed to leave.

After further wrangling, Cr. was per* mitted to retire. »

Cr. Hodges addressed the meeting. He «mpha. tically stated that the meeting regardio g i»e loan did not talte place before eight o'clock, a *d that it was half-au-hour later before the qaesti »o came before the Council. The requisite thr *e days notice for a special meeting had been .given. Nothing would be done in the matter till M onday week, and then the loan would hars to be n dvertised and accepted in the same way a* an ordi nary tender. The money would be expended on draii iage works and road formation and.not in widening streets. After similar assurances had been giv en by Cr. Naumann, The motion which had been moved by Mr Downie was seconded by Mr G. TVybab, andl carried.

Mr Lstdsn proposed and Mr Stbahan seconded the next resolution :—" That in the opinion of this meeting the Mayor and Council are not competent to deal with our public money matters, seeing the shameful way in which ti ey have spent the same in the past;, also the loose winder in which they pass w.*ks." After soms remarks by Cr. M'lnitbb,. who stronsr'y defended the CjuncU, the resolution was carried.

Mr James Kelly moved and Mr Glass seconded —" That the Council, in th«» opiuicn of this meeting, should not borrow any money withont consulting the ratepayers." Carried.

The last motion, which was pnt by Mr Glass and seconded by Mr Letden, was carried unanimously. It was a vote of want of confidence in the Mayor and Councillor* now in office, and a request that they would resign.