The Manawatu Herald. Thursday. May 25, 1916. FOXTON AND ITS HATES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1555, 25 May 1916, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Thursday. May 25, 1916. FOXTON AND ITS HATES.

WE complain of the rates we pay in Foxton tor ilie public benefits received. We compare other boroughs with our own and comparison makes us .more dissatisfied. We must look for a cause, is it dial our administration is too costly ? Possibly there is room for a little economy in this connection, but in any case it would not afford material relief to the rates. The gas works are not yet a paying tiroposition, and until the works are self-supporting the- borough must make good the deficiency. Had the ratepayers carried the loan in the first place for the works instead of buying second-hand, and at a considerable advance, from a private company, relief would have been obtained in this connection. But we are at present paying for our shortsightedness. L’nder the circumstances, however, the Council did the right thing, even at the extra, cost, in municipalising the works, and the time is not far distant when the gas works will he revenue-producing. We are at a great disadvantage over other boroughs in the matter of metal for our streets. We have to bring metal by rail from Tiakitahuna at great cost, whereas other boroughs have all the metal they require within their own boundaries. If we want a water supply we have to traverse miles for a gushing mountain torrent, and the cost would be a heavy burden on the present high rates. Even an artesian supply though less costly at first, wftuld be frought with serious drawbacks. Perhaps the water from the Manawatu, by passing through a double filtration process, could be utilised. Anyhow, all these public and desirable benefits must add considerably to the rates. Foxton is held up to ridicule because it is behind the times. But those who jibe at us do so in ignorance of all the facts. Other boroughs possess rich endowments which produce large revenues in relief of rales. Palmerston, Levin, and boroughs throughout the Wairarapa, in Taranaki, and elsewhere, are richly endowed, and possess natural advantages, but with Foxton it is different. This, then, is the principle cause of our backwardness. We visited Hamilton the other day, and (lie ex-Mayor, Mr Manning, in showing us the sights and magnificent endowments, informed us that within a period of twenty years Hamilton would have sufficient revenue from its endowments to practically free it from, rates. Foxton has no relief whatever. Tin l faull in this connection is with those who managed affairs in 1 lie early days, and Foxton was left out in the cold. This is why we are so heavily rated to-day, and no matter how capable l the men may be whom we elect as our trustees, (hey cannot alter matters, except to see (hat the rates are expended to (he very best advantage.