The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1906. THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3718, 6 October 1906, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1906. THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

Thk poll on the three loan proposals, erection of gas works ,£7,000, adding to the municipal buildings £3OO, snd furnishing municipal building and library ,£2OO, was taken yesterday. The two first-named were lost, and the last named carried. Two-thirds of the ratepayers ignored the proposals altogether, and failed to record their votes. If this is the way a majority of the Foxton ratepayers exercise the rights of citizenship then the sooner Foxton puts up it s shutters the better. We are not complaining because two of the proposals were lost, but we are ashamed to let people in other parts of the colony know with what indifference the majority of our ratepayers treat matters of such importance. Burgesses who do not take sufficient interest in matters of this kind are lacking the duties of citizenship and deserve to be disfranchised. Truly “there is something rotten in the State of Denmark.’’ We are too lethargic. We need no longer wonder why our wants are neglected by the Government; why we possess a building little better than a shed for a courthouse ; why our post office is the laughingstock of visitors ; why we haven’t a harbour board ; why we neglect our local tradesmen in preference to fattening outsiders; why we haven’t proper train and tram facilities. Enterprise and citizenship are mortifying. It is painful to be compelled to thrust home in this fashion but we should be lacking in our duty did we not make some attempt to arouse the people to a sense of their responsibilities , and ‘ ‘ shake up the dry bones. ’ ’ It rests with the people to say whether this town is to ride on the tide of progress or drop anchor in the pool of stagnation. Yesterday’s poll is a standing reproach. Just think of it : two-thirds of our ratepayers asleep!