Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1899. A Loan.

Manawatu Herald, 11 May 1899, Page 2

Manawatu Herald THURSDAY, MAY 11, 1899. A Loan.

Whenever a roads and bridges policy is proposed by the Borough Council it becomes painfully evident that however necessary the work may be, there is not sufficient money raised from rates to do the work. The general public cry aloud at the remissness of Councillors in not metalling the roads, and steps are taken occasionally of altering the personnel of the Council, in the vain hope new brooms would sweep clean, so that any leakage in the funds might be made clear. We heard a remark made the other day which we daresay is frequently made, and the explanation perhaps has not been forthcoming. The remark was that in years gone bye the old Town Board made more roads and had more money to spend. This is perfectly true, as the area comprised in thq

Town Board was looked after by two local bodies, the Board, and the County Council, and the latter body took charge of the main line of road, thus giving the first named body more chance to attend to the bye roads. All this might be obtained to-morrow did the ratepayers so decide, as in the days referred to ratepayers had two distinct rates to pay, one to the Board, and one to the County, both equivalent to the shilling in the pound on the rental value. We may also remark that in the years 1879-80 town property in Foxton was valued nearly four times as much as it is now, qaite, if the value of land is only considered. Ratepayers by looking up their receipts will find that the whole amount ofrates per year that they have paid since the Borough was formed has been only fifteen pence in the pound, and they have thus saved ninepence a year in the pound rental for the last ten years. This helps to explain the milk in the cocoanut, or at any rate why road formation has not been faster developed. The present task set the Borough Councillors is similar to that set the Israelites by the Egyptians of old, to make bricks without straw, or make roads without money. The Egyptians had however the best of it, as they forced the Israelites to make the bricks, but we fail in forcing Councillors to make roads. We are therefore glad to find that Councillors are going to take the bull by the horns and meet the ratepayers in public meeting so as to tell them that if they desire all the things they keep worrying for they must empower the Council to borrow money. As we have always expressed the opinion that a loan is the only way out of the difficulty, we shall be only too glad to .assist the Council in securing a sufficient loan to metal most of the streets, but the security for the loan must be over the whole Borough. There are two sums mentioned as necessary, one of two thousand pounds, and one of four thousand pounds. Until an estimate has been prepared we must leave a discussion on the amount for a future day, but we remember that Mr Wye estimated that £2000 was required. As this calculation was made without reference to the Moutoa Road, as it was imagined the Council would be trammelled by the Government Loans to Local Bodies Act which refuses to aid the repair of any road that had been made, it is probable a further sum to put this main road in good order will be needed. As the Council will borrow, if they get authority from the ratepayers in the open market, they will be able to spend their money as they will, simply by keeping to the items of a schedule they furnish to the ratepayers prior to the vote being taken. We find from the estimates of the income and expenditure of the Borough that a sum of about £300 is left yearly out of which our road formation is made. Under this system we get roads badly made and in little portions, whilst with a loan we should Set our roads made at once, and have the advantage of using them, 'and at a trifling more expense. Of course a special rate to provide interest would have to be struck, as a security to the lender, but there is no reason why the whole, or a largo part should not be paid out of this yearly balance. When the day ot voting comes it will be interesting to note how many of those who now urge the claims of the roads they are most interested in will give the real assurance of their statements by voting in favour of a loan to make them. The Council for their own peace cannot do better than subject the ratepayers to this solid test.