Sympathy

Feilding Star, Volume VI, Issue 114, 12 March 1885, Page 2

Sympathy

It is pleasant to notice the hearty sympathy accorded to the Feilding Borough by the Marton Advocate and the Palmerston Times in the financial difficulty in which it is for but a little time involved. We would, however, point out that our Palmetston contemporary is somewhat pharisaical when he says, after mentioning we pay 2s 6d in the £ — which is not yet the case, for the additional 6d is not yet legally leviable : — " Palmerstonians may be thankful that the circumstances ot their Borough are not similar to those of Feilding, which has to pay, not for benefit received, but for damage done. As a matter of fact, ratepayers in Palmerston have until very recently paid only a general rate of Is in the £, though £10,000 of borrowed money has been expended ; they are now paying a special rate of 6d to partially provide interest on that loan, and when the £50,000 loan is raised, they will be called upon to pay rates amounting in the whole to 2s Sd in the £, or a penny less than the Feilding ratepayers. Nothing could more clearly show the great natural advantage possessed by Palmerston when compared with other towns. Feilding has, it will be observed, imposed upon itself a sinking fund in connection with the loan it has raised, and it is to be regretted V. at this cannot be abolished and the rate be lightened to that extent. It is the present that has to be studied in growing country towns. As the central town of the Manchester Block, Feildioghas a well-assured future, and it should have discounted that more liberally than it has done." We admit the " natural advantages " of Palmerston, but not that they are greater than those of Feilding. Where Palmerston has the " advantage " is in the unitedness of her people when the interests of the Borough are at stake.