Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOV. 20, 1892. The Mayoralty.

Manawatu Herald, 29 November 1892, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, NOV. 20, 1892. The Mayoralty.

The meeting last night was most disappointing as it afforded one candidate an opportunity of discouraging any attempt that Gould be made to improve the position of the town. Mr Nye softened the shock of his intentions, by first leading the meeting astray on two points — one was that he was always ready to secure progress, and the next that if a, loan was not raised he saw a pan by which the only unmetalled nlaih road could be made in three years. We are sorry to say that Mr Nye signally failed to show the successful initiation of any of his schemes for the progress of the town, and, to a pointed question, admitted that he was personally against any loan being raised. If he is elected Mayor it can be taken as assured that no effort will be made to secure any money for the development of the district as it would be a suicidal act when it is known that the chief officer of the town is opposed to the proposa'. Therefore the election of Mr Nye means the continuance of the present wretched expensive way of making roads bit by bit. With out intentionally being desirous of misleading the meeting, we are bound to say that Mr Nye did, when he asserted that if he practised economy we could get the Motoa road metalled in three years. If we accept his own figures, as given with much detail, we find the cost of this road will be £787 and for this year he purposes spending £48 1 The only other available sum out of monies allocated to road formation is the amount proposed to be spent on the Avenue, some £100, and so th it after the expiry of another twelvemonths there would be the magnificent sum of £148 for the Motoa road, and how three times £148 can possibly be made to equal £787 or how four years time has been reduced in Mr Nye's mind to three years is just one of those things which only himself can understand.

We applaude the outspoken assertion of Mr McMillan that he was in favour of a loan, because with a few a loan is a dreadful bugbear, on the supposition, that if you once begin borrowing the ratepayers will never know when it will be stopped, an absurdity at once exposed when it is remembei'ed that a vote is taken on every proposal. The pi'inciple to be determined at this election, chosen so pointedly by Mr Nye, is, shall there be a loan or not ? Mr Nye says no, Mr McMillan says yes. It is for the ratepayers to give the deciding answer. The actual amount of the loan, and the purposes to which it shall be used need not now be minutely discussed, as previous to any loan being obtained the fullest particulars have to be advertised, and a public meeting called, and a vote afterwards taken. The question the ratepayers will decide to-morrow is whether they prefer putting up with the incon veniences they labour under, or make an effort for comfort and pro gress without heavily burdening themselves by doing so. We feel assured that by good financing a loan of £1500 could be paid for without increasing the rates, an at 6 per cent the amount would be £90, and it hap been shown by Mr Nye that at any rate the Borough has £148 of surplus revenue, which would go upon roada anyhow, the Motoa road first. The loan to make the Motoa road would thus practically free £60 for the assistance of by-roads before the next four years, tht most sanguine hope of Mr Nye, but according to figures the next six years.

Without prejudice to either candidate personally, but upon the broad grounds of public policy, we hope the candidate that is for prncress will be returned at the head of the poll. Though there is a difference in years between the candidates yet we do not think the Burgesses need be alarmed to trust their business to Mr McMillan, because he has proved himself a most capable business man in his private affairs. For Mr Nye we hold the highest opinion and regret that he is not one with us in his views of public policy. The election has been fought fairly and pleasantly, and we have no doubt that it will be concluded in a similar manner, the issues being simply Stagnation v. Progress.