SECOND EDITION THE BOROUGH LOAN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 40, 15 January 1884, Page 3

SECOND EDITION THE BOROUGH LOAN.

Our readers will be doubtless aware that yesterday an insufficient number, of ratepayers polled to comply with the requirement* of the Act, m order to legalize the adoption of tho Loan proposals. The actual number of burgesses m the Borough is 457, of which a full half, or 229, would be required to poll m favour of the Loan, before it could be declared legally carried. Yesterday the total number of votes polled for and .against was 229, exclusive of the six informal vows, which, of course, do not count m the calculation. So that had all the votes been unanimouslyin favour of the proposals, there would only have been sufficient to carry it. The majority of those who did vote was m favour of the Loan proposals, the majority being 83 votes, or ten more than tv?p to one. This proves that the actual feeling; of the i esident ratepayers was and is strongly m favour of the , Loan proposals, notwithstanding all the pressme brought to bear by the minority, and all the glaring misrepresentations of a certain newspaper. Virtually those opposed to the Loan were defeated by a large majority, and no doubt felt their defeat very acutely. Mri>. Nathan made no secret of his opposition to the Loan, and m that respect acted consistently, as he is very largely interested as au extensive pro-perty-holder, and no doubt feared the incieased burthen of rates. No one could blame him for his open and strenuous opposition to the proposals, m which he exerted himself to the utmost. Others again -of the opposition had no stake to speak of m the place, but simply agitated for the sake of making themselves prominent. Some of them were former defeated candidates for municipal honours, and flew round as if on the result depended their very existence. Many of the ratepayers were to blame m not having taken the trouble to place their votes on record, apparently quite forgetting the tact Ibat votes not recorded counted as m opposition, as we pointed out yesterday. Had 73 votes more been recorded m favour of the proposals, the proposals would have been adopted; and it is quite possible that 78 ratepayers favourable to the Loan held back from recording their votes either through being undecided, or because they thought their votes would not be necessary, as there would be enough without them. However, the poll was unfavourable, and we greatly fearlhe ratepayers will yet havelrtfason to "bitterly deplore the result. Meantime there must be an entire stoppage. of,all public works, and until a speciaj rate is imposed, which will have to be done immediately $he Borough, will experience • more or less ■; financial embarasßment. Those who voted for the Loan will have the satisfaction of feeling that they did their duty as ratepayers, and it is satisr factory to reflect, that such a large pumber; of ratepayers recognized their obligations m that respect. The Borough Council will now, we presume, lose no. timfe m propounding some other scheme, as it is manifest that mutters must not be allojwed to remain m statu quo. We would suggest that a public meeting be convened at an eaily date, at which the whole question might receive full-discussion, and some definite proposals be, arrived at. As the last schedule was advertised, it was impos slble to depart from it. Those were the proposals, and none other could be discussed. The opponents of the Loan sioultT'-be afforded an opportunity of formulating their views, which possibly might meet with popular endorsement. We trust the matter will receive the immediate and serious consideration both of our City Fathers and also of all sections of the communiity, as its retibgnize'd importance' unquestionably demands it should.