THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated. THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 1922. PLAINS COUNTY LOAN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4366, 16 January 1922, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated. THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto : Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 1922. PLAINS COUNTY LOAN.

Ratepayers of the Hauraki Plains County will note by the report of the so-called indignation meeting,” held last Saturday at z Ngatea, that there was no sound reason advanced against the carrying of the loan proposal on which a poll is to be taken on Wednesday of this week. While not denying that there are just causes of complaint, and that the meeting may accomplish a good purpose by arousing the interest of the ratepayers in county affairs, nevertheless, if on account of certain faults the ratepayers were to turn down the loan proposal they would be “biting their noses to spite their faces.” It has been asserted that, failing the carrying of the loan, the roads will go back to their original condition; it is much more likely that they will be maintained as far as possible by the striking of the highest possible general rate. Either alternative is bad, the loan being the best solution, especially as part of the burden will be carried by postcri'ty. Criticism is a good thing, and a live and hostile opposition may sometimes galvanise a ruling body into greater activity and more efficiency, but the critics should be careful not to c-verstep the mark and propose things that they themselves would not or could not carry out if called upon to take charge of the ribbons. By way of illustration, let it be assumed that the loan proposal will be defeated ; then, in all likelihood, the Council will resign ; the opposition factions will be called upon to stand for the Council, and to carry on affairs without the needful money! The man

who is prepared to administer a young, vast, and undeveloped county like the Hauraki Plains County without loan money has the courage of a fool. Let there be no mistake: commitments must be met; maintenance must be kept going; the money must be found. It seems almost like insulting the intelligence of the ratepayers to repeat that the loan is the only feasible way out: they know that, but are in danger of being misled by those who, though well-intentioned, have not the necessary information to be able to arrive at a correct conclusion. Cut out humbug and trifling, and carry the poll on Wednesday!