AN INDIGNANT MAYOR

Hokitika Guardian, 24 February 1928, Page 1

AN INDIGNANT MAYOR

“INSULT TO RATEPAYERS.” HAMILTON, Feb. 22. ‘‘Without any local knowledge, the Local Bodies’ Loans Board sends down a recommendation that is a reflection on the councillors and an insult to the ratepayers.” In those strong terms the' Mayor (Mr J. R. Fow) condemned an action which he severely criticised at a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council last night, and which was later referred to he a deputation which waited upon the Hon A. I). M.’Leod, Minister of Lands. The communication which provoked Iho outburst from the (Mayor was forwarded from the Local Bodies’ Loans Board in advising the eoimeil that when it placed a £35,000 footways loan proposal before the ratepayers a rider should he attached to the voting paper pointing out the increasing indebtedness of the borough. Proceeding to make a scathing indictment of the hoard, the (Mayor stated; “When this came to hand, the suggestion made appeared so ridiculous that the Mayor and the Town Clerk waited on them concerning the matter with the suggestion that tKey reconsider the proposal and either reject it or amend the terms. We found the chairman hazy about the whoje matter, and lie did not even know the duration of the loan. I contend that the ratepayers are intelligent enough to know wheher they want these improvements or not. whether they c?in afford them or not, and no one can judge better than they whether They are prepared to approve and pay for them.” Olther councillors supported tho Mayor, who stated that the primary object of the loan was to relieve unemployment. “Well, I don’t know what would have prompted the Local Bodies’ Loan Board to impose such a condition upon you," commented the Hou A. D. 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, as you have stated the case, any necessity for imposing the restriction, but I am not going to criticise the Loans Board until I have their 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 bad been treated similarly.