King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, OCT. 5, 1912 BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSALS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 506, 5 October 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle SATURDAY, OCT. 5, 1912 BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSALS.

The wisdom of the course adopted by the To Kuiti Borough Council in awaiting a report from the engineer before placing proposals for a fresh loan before the ratepayers will be patent to all who read the report published elsewhere in this issue. It has been apparent to all for a considerable time thai the loan raised by the original council would be insufficient to carry out the work necessary to place the town in a proper and sound position with respect to public conveniences, but an authoritative report on the matter wag undoubtedly necessary in order to make clear the exact position. The planning of a town from the outset is no light matter, and it need cause no surprise to learn that the original scheme will require to be supplemented very substantially in order to complete the work originally planned, and amplify it to meet the requirements of a rapidly expanding centre. In all municipal undertakings entailing considerable expenditure care has to be exercised in differentiating between the necessary requirements, and those which may be desirable, but do not directly affect the health and well being of the community. In the case of Te Kuiti, planned and settled under conditions which made no provision for assisting municipal enterprise, the people are forced to tread the measure to slow music, and only provide the absolute essentials in the matter of public convenience. In the report referred to it will be seen that nothing more than elementary requirements are referred to. Good streets, drainage, and water supply are so essential to a community that discussion on the matter is merely beating the wind. Minor differences concerning administration may exist, but with respect to the necessity for the conveniences referred to there can be only one opinion. The schema is so clearly presented in the report that elaboration of the various points is unnecessary. The non-essentials are rigorously excluded, and as the pro. posal affirmed by the council provides

for the expenditure covering a period of three years, it will be seen that the most urgent work must take precedence. In urging the desirableness of the loan we do so in view of the supreme necessity of the case. From a business standpoint it is necessary, inasmuch as if the various works are left in the present uncompleted state the community will be paying rates for services which do not exist. Moreover, if the said works are not carried to completion as soon as possible deterioration will be rapid, and the cyst of completion at some future period will be enormously increased. From the standpoint of the well being of tho community it is obviously desirable that the first essentials of civilisation shall be placed within the reach of all. It is manifest that the increased loan is necessary in order to provide theee essentials. Everything considered, vtfe sincerely trust the action of the council will be endorsed by the ratepayers, and that in view of the urgency of the case no time will be lost in furthering a proposal which is essential to the progress of the town.