Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1930. VIGILANT RATEPAYERS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4522, 25 October 1930, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1930. VIGILANT RATEPAYERS.

IT is encouraging to know that such interest is ibein<«- manifested in local municipal affairs as was evidenced by the deputation which waited upon the Borough Council on Thursday evening-. Criticism of a constructive character, as pointed out by the .Mayor, is at all times welcome to the Council. So far as economy is concerned., the present Council has endeavoured to administer the affairs of the 'borough without incurring unnecessary expense, and has succeeded in reducing the loan liabilities of the borough. We hope,' therefore, that ratepayers will not read into the deputation’s remarks that the bottom is folding out of Eoxton, Our town, like all other centres throughout the Dominion, is affected by a temporary wave of depression which is workl-iwide and which reacts on certain temperaments, causing them to be gloomy and lugubrious. Foxton has incurred liabilities in providing streets and footways, lighting, water and drainage, five lighting equipment, municipal chambers and a spacious and welt-alppointed Town Hull. But are not the benefits of all these conveniences to he weighed against the cost? A bountiful Providence doesn’t drop the wherewithal for these things from the skies, neither lias the capital cost been digged into the earth. One speaker stated that the lOouneil had no right to “speculate” -with the ratepayers’ money and he was quite right. But we would point out, however, that the Municipal Corporations Act prohibits speculative ventures, bill provides the necessary safeguards for investment of public limuice which includes recreation and entertainment. The Council’s “speculation” in municipal pictures saved the Council from levying rates on the Town Hall and made it self-supporting and'at the same time provided amusement for the public at a cost below any .similar form of entertainment in the Dominion. The advent of “talkies,” however, has altered this aspect entirely as all our neighbouring towns are providing this latest form of entertainment which has and will continue to attract numbers of local people to the detriment of our own silent picture pa - tronage and to business generally. The gravamen of the deputation’s request was that the installation of “talkies” be deferred, under such time as the Council can do so without adding to the burden of rates. To continue the present runningmeans an inevitable loss and burden .oh the ratepayers while the Council’s intention to instal “talkies” will undoubtedly cut the losses provided -those wlm signed thd petition will. give the venture some measure of support. A statement will be submitted at---an early date-showing the financial position which will indicate the Council’s reasons for installing the “talkies.”