THE BOROUGH LOAN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 49, 26 January 1884, Page 3

THE BOROUGH LOAN.

There is re^soji to iipji^ye that fye ratepoyers will not favour tne pioposed £5,000 Loan, as bejug tQ small $.0 effect any practical benefit. This js oujl* yje\y alsQ. jWe believe the amount i* tpo small. .We still are of opinion, that tlje Loan should not be for less than £30,000; any less, amount will only embarrass subsequent negotiations for future loans, which will undoubtedly be found nece -sary. it is satisfactory

to reHeet that a large majority of the resident ratepayer* favoured the recent Loan proposals. It may have been iniwise jto include a water scheme, — that is. a. matter of opinion. We will admit .water schemes frequently prove very costly and uncertain undertakings. The general opiuion is that if a vote fol ,a, small loan is, carried, the results will be unsatisfactory. In the course of a short time, Paluierston will be m . direct communication with Wellington, and its importance as an inland centre, and. railway terminus, will bo greatly enhanced. And to talk about a Borough Loan of £5000 under such or even present conditions is to our mind absurd., We trust the meeting on Wednesday will entertain no. 'such paltry.,proposals.., If Pahnerston is to take. the stand ik should and must eventually . take, it will require the ex penditure of a considerable sum of money to carry out necessary municipal a ndei takings. . Consider our upolqgy for a drainage scheme, the utter lack of sewerage, the danger that must accrue before long through our culpable neglect of sanitary measures, our defective street formation m many outside but thickly populated streets; and then talk about £5000 to do all that is required or proposed to be done! The question cannot admit of argument. It is utterly preposterous to cpnsider the question m such a light. If a.loan is to be raised, ljst it ! be a ; loan that will be of some service j [and if otherwise, let -the subject be dis..roissed as a topic of public discussion for the present. We say for the pro- [ sent ; because it is one that will keep coming- :to the surface, being a neces* shy. Surely a scheme for an adequate I Loan can bo propounded that will meet^ with : ' f'xvour and be adopted. We affirm that a>£sooo loan will be- a^i^ like, and a delusion, as being quite iv ; sufficient for oui present and future requirements. We - ; counsel the ratepayers to deliberate carefully before they commit themselves to a course : tha,t they may have cause to : repent. Get; them avoid any action that will embarrass .the future. And we say unhesitatingly that adopting the £5000 Loan proposals will embarass the future. J?ai\ better postpone a decision altdgeth'e'r, than stand committed to what will prove a certain blunder.: II no proposals are adopted just now, future ; negotiations will not be complicated. The tatepayer.s must carefully consider the position of matters, and* exercise the utmost prudence and ibrthought before definitely adopting i any particular views on such an important question.