TOWN HALL LOAN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 30502, 24 June 1926, Page 3

TOWN HALL LOAN.

CARRIED BY LARGE MAJORITY. A poll of the ratepayers was taken yesterday to sanction a loan of £6OOO to supplement the insurance! money on the building destroyed, to provide a new Town Hall at a total cost of £BOOO. The Borough Council after giving the subject careful ensideration, decided to call tenders for the new building in order to ascertain the supplementary finance required by way of loan and to accept a tender in order.to have the building completed before the end of the year for reasons previously stated. The Council’s! action in accepting a tender and proceeding with the construction of the building before the loan was sanctioned was overwhelmingly endorsed by the ratepayers at yesterday’s poll, who were fully aware of all the circumstances. Although a sm'all poll the figures clearly demonstrated the general feeling throughout the town. The supporters for and. against the loan conveyed electors to the polling booth. The result of the poll was as follows: — For the proposal 224 Against the proposal 51 Informal 3 Majority for, 173, being 81 per cent, of the total votes east. Although there were 582 electors on the roll qualified to vote, a considerable number of these are absentees, the number of local ratepayers not exercising the franchise being insignificant. Il is interesting to note that the last loan poll for roads and streets improvements, the number of votes recorded against that proposal was 55 —apparently Foxton possesses a “die hard” brigade whose numbers, we are pleased to state, are gradually diminishing. We congratulate the Mayor and Councillors on the splendid result achieved and feel sure that the confidence reposed in them will be well justified. The polling booth yesterday was situated in Iho temporary Town Ilall, the results being declared shortly after 7 o'clock by the Reluming Officer. A large crowd assembled to hear the result which was received with cheers.

Tli Mayor (Mr. Perreau) in thanking the ratepayers, said that the result of the poll was a mark of confidence and an endorsement of the Council’s -action. lie fell sure that the public would he well satisfied with the new hall, which will supply the requirements of the town and district for many years to come. It was gratifying to the Council to know that they had the hearty co-operation of the ratepayers. He thanked citizens who had assisted in bringing electors to the poll.