King Country Chronicle Wednesday, July 15th, 1914 MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 686, 15 July 1914, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, July 15th, 1914 MUNICIPAL PROGRESS.

The estimates for the year, which were produced at the lust meeting of the Te Kuiti Borough Ciunoil,disclose a position which not infrequently arises in connection with young and progressiva municipalitise. The ratepayers are faced with the necessity of paying a high general rate in order to provide for administration and the maintenance of works already acomplished, in addition to finding the interest an-* sinking fund on Bpecial loans raised to carry out the works. Though the experience is rot uncommon it must bo admitted ths Te Kuiti residents have been faced with an unusual set cf condition?;. Progress in the majority of centres has come much more slowly, and provision for public utilities in consequence could be mac'o gradually, while the additional fact has to bo borne in mind that progress in many growing towns is assisted by the possession of reserves and endowments from which revenue is derived. When Te Kuiti •was constituted a borough (he residents were faced with urgent public necessities of every description. Streets were unformed and drainage unthought of. Stray stock roamed day and night through the highwayß and by-ways, and such services as water and light w°re things to bo deemed only possiblo in a dim and.distant future. Within a space of four years all the public utilities mentioned have been provided, and there still remains much to bd dono in order to* conserve the public health and well being. Town building at expreßS speed cannot be accomplished without a large expenditure-the larger because of the necessity of hying the foundations on a seals to provide for anticipated expansion. It naturally follows that the initial burden has to be borne for some time by the community which has sufficient faith in the future of the district to plan generously. At prescjnt Te Kuiti is car rying portion of posterity's burden as?

well as its own. Moreover' in order to safeguard its interests, and promote the welfare of the community, it will have to continue to take toll of the present to provide for the future. That the burden heretofore has been borne entirely by the small community, saddled with a leasehold tenure, is a strong argument in favour of Government assistance either by way of endowments or the granting of subsidies for public .works. It ia understood the Prime Minister is favourable to the granting of a substantial subsidy for the river deviation scheme, and the fact that this scheme contains provision for the establishing of borough endowments which will be revenue producing ia a gratifying featum in connection therewith. There is no doubt the water service will be self-supporting and the same should be said of the electrical installation, though the latter will require the expenditure of further capital in order to place it in a pbsition to pay its way and relieve the ratspayss of the burden of a special rate which has been found necessary fcr the ensuing year. Everything considered, the position of the municipality is eminently sound despite the fact that a fairly high rate has to be faced, and there is every inducement for the ratepayers to continue the progressive policy hitherto adopted. There is also every reason why the strongest possible representations should be made to the Government with a view to obtaining assistance for those who have shown such willingness to help themselves and promote progress on the highest lines.