TAG TO LOAN

Evening Star, Issue 19798, 23 February 1928, Page 15

TAG TO LOAN

INDIGNANT BOROUGH [Per United Press Association.] HAMILTON, February 32. “Without any local knowledge the Local Bodies’ Loans Board sends down a recommendation that is a reflection on councillors and an insult to the ratepayers.” In these strong terms tho mayor (Mr J. 11. Fow) condemns the board’s action, which ho severely criticised at a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council Inst night, and which was later referred to by a deputation which waited upon Mr A. D. M'Leod (Minister of Lands). Tho objectionable communication which provoked tho wrath of the mayor was forwarded from the Local Bodies’ Loans Board in advising the council that when it placed a loan proposal for £35,000 for footways before the ratepayers a rider should be attached to the voting paper pointing out the increasing indebtedness of the borough. The Mayor stated that when this came to hand tho suggestion made appeared to bo so ridiculous that he and the town clerk waited on the board concerning the matter, with the suggestion tht it should reconsider the proposal, and either reject it or amend the terms. “We found the chairman hazy about the whole matter, and he did not even know the duration of the loan,” said tho mayor. “I contend that the ratepayers are intelligent enough to know whether they want these improvements or not and whether they can afford them or not, and no one can judge better than they whether they are prepared to approve and pay for them.” Other councillors supported the mayor, who stated that the primary object of the loan was to relieve unemployment. “ Well. 1 don’t know what could have prompted the Local Bodies’ Loans Board to impose such a condition upon you,” commented Mr M'Leod, when the case was presented to him by a borough council deputation which waited on him later in the evening. “ I cannot see, ns you have stated the case, any necessity for imposing the restriction; but I am not going „to criticise the Loan Board until I have its viewpoint,” The Minister added, however, that the council was entitled to know the reason why the restriction had been imposed on it or if other local bodies had been treated similarly.