Borough Finance.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 55, 31 December 1912, Page 4

Borough Finance.

fTO THE EDIXOE.I Sir,—Doubtless many of your readers who have S;en tiie claiming musical comedy "Horsdora" will recall the song, " I'act, '1 act. you can take it for a faei." Perusal of letteis sent by Mr W. Dur.n to the Borough cou cil and that published i.i your last issue by Mr V. k. Law lie will lead many ratepayers to think that if both these gentlemen tad laid to heart the a ivice of (hs sang referred to it would hj? been better themselves and the v»noae interests they profess to fe've. It was unfortunate that Mr Dunn should have ro it his good intention by the unconciliatoiy ard undiplomatic tone of h's letter. Apalt from the fact th?t there was tto n.uch of the "Great I"Am, it was perfectly possii le lo have v.orded the Utter in such a way that it would have couveyed the information whhoitwouidhg the susceptibilities of the councillors. It is more to be regretted that Mr l.awrie's letter should be so lacking the courtesy a'd dignity which is customarily associated with the office of chief citizen hrough ut the letter .runs the inference "freadon the tail of my coat." The pity of if. is that 81 the pieacnt time the welfare of ihe Eorough demands unanimity and harmoi ioiis working amongst our citizens, instead of bickering. Fh re ia r,o doubt that there was a general impression that the loan was ti be nisei at 5 per cent, with 3 per rent. and the assumption of the rat-payer was that the Council bad math a tentative arrangement to this effect. Therefore 'he failure aft. i Mr Dunr 's resignation to accomplish this carries a strong candemratisn of bo h Mr Dunn's and the Council's management. If Mr Dunn mscl.- any arrangement tn procure the money at tiie rate mentioned it wai manifestly his duty to have plared his colleagues in posses-i >n of the information If o;i thj other fanl it was a surmhe on his part that the Iran could b:- raised at the figure mentioned, th:n he should have mad: it perfectly clear that no arrangement had been ei terul into. A.yway, Mr Dunn ssems to have made a mLtakv in conaCtuting him;.clf tha financial authority, and to 6 Council in dumbly permit!ins Mr Dunn to take, the s.iie iespousii.i 1 ity oi his shouldois. To a ceitain extent tiiere appears justice in Mr Dunn'.objection to tne actiors of thep:esent Ma.,or a» I Council The 'ratepayers sat ctiurr. d three Lae. Tne first was for £SBOO for the water. This had to te carried unless the town wished to udcigo the experieace of having a loceiver put 'a charge. It 'as no fault of the present Council that thev had to come to the ratepavers to ask them to carry this loan. They were suffering for the fins of thair predecessors. Whether it was a mistake at that time bringing forward the ether project* nee'! rot be entered into i:e:e. A;yway, ASBOO had t> be raised, and ti.at quickly. It is no us- Mr Dunn '\h> must not lose sight of the fact t at his retirement iri.ni office dot a net fur a minute absolve nini in the public mind from the re-ponsib;llity of being the man who brought forward the loan-saying that too much Isd been paid in inteiest What v.ould Mr Dui n have paid had he remained in office? Could 112 have got the money at 5 percent., pltu 1 p.r cttit. brokerage? If sr, why d 1 Li he not tell the Council where the rroney cculd be procured at those terms'! If he co»ild not, would he have paid more? Jt is obvious that Mr Dunn would have done just what he is now condemning, But in regard to the other loans the position ia cliff rient, and Mr Dunn's objection becomes a very perti; ci.t one. When the Council had raised all the money tiiat was needed for imm diate tne, why did they continue I ono <v ing ? Was it good business to g : on getting money which they did not n<{ 'ire r.t once and paying a heavy rsta 0' interest for it? I understand from y ur paper that the Council has raise d £IO,OOO. Will Mr Laurie let the ratepayers know what this has cost

in brokerage? What a>e the Council noing to du with the remainder (if money above that required f> r ti:e water loan? Can it be regarded as good finance to borrow when money is tight more than you absoluiel.y requir"? But Mr Dur.n has to share thn blame with the Council, for it was larg'.ly hh fault that tie opportunity was given the Council o { be-no a-ing more than was immediately needed Criticism of public nr.en and matter-! does no haun, but it is more to the point if we, th.latepaytis, can M et our best msn lo work together for the progress of the borough.- 1 am, et-•., "ONE WHO PAYS."