COUNTY ELECTIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2341, 6 November 1908, Page 5

COUNTY ELECTIONS.

MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. '

Mr.sW. I). ’ Lysnar, who is seeking election to the Cook County Council as the representative of the Whataupokoi riding, addressed a meeting of ratepayers; in the Farmers’ Union Club rooms last evening, to discuss the administration of the County. There were present Crs. H. White, Messrs W. D. and F. Lysnar, J. C. Field, and-eight other ratepayers. Mr W. Sievwright occupied the chair. . Mr. Lysnar said lie thought it was advisable that the ratepayers, should be acquainted with the financial position of the County, so that they could decide at tlio election whether a change in the Council was necessary. The County now had an overdraft of £20,509 and unpaid liabilities of £2200. Tho rates had also been doubled since the present Council took office. The rate at present was equivalent to Is per acre on land that wag valued at £8 per acre. That was exclusive of separate rates. He thought a new system of finance should be adopted, so that loan money oould bo used for permanent works, and the general revenue for maintenance and sinking fund. The general rate could then be reduced to -Id in tho £. Over £4OOO had been spent on the new County offices, and the money had been taken out of rates. The amount should have been raised by a loan, and posterity left to pay their share of the cost.- Some time ago he had moved that a loan of £200,000 bo .raised over the whole County. A committee as set up to report oil the proposal. Mr. Lysnar here quoted from tho committee’s report to show that if the money was borrowed the rates could be reduced for years to come. He stated, that while Captain Tucker j and Cr. Matthews signed the report ' they would not support it in the | Council. The new Counties Act- j strengthened the position of the Council in raising a loan, because the Government would paj r half of the sinking fund. The Council had agreed to raise a loan of £IOO,OOO, but not to borrow the money until after March next. The tramway loan proposal should not stand in the way of a general loan. Ho questioned if there was any merit in the tramway proposals, because -the Borough had found the Straker waggon a success. All he would urge was that Councillors should be returned pledged to allow the loan proposals to go before the ratepayers. He was opposing Mr. A. F. Matthews on that- point. Cr. Holden had been pledged.to loan proposals when first elected, but bad gone back on that pledge, and Captain Tucker had voted against the loans in the Council. Unless a loan was raised, the rates would have to be further increased.

In reply to a'question, Mr. Lysnar said that on the former basis £139,000 would be sufficient now that- the AYaikohu riding had been separated from the County. Those present then discussed the proposals in an informal manner. Mr Cameron said it was impossible to have good roads in the County without a loan.

Mr. F. Hall said he was against tho County borrowing at all. Mr. Sievwright thought the reform should be in the way of -laying down tramways in. the centre of the road to relieve the heavy traffic, because it was doubtful if the metal obtainable would carry the traffic. On tlio motion of Mr. Cameron, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. Lysnar for bis explanation of tlio position.