THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1916 " RAISING THE WIND."

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 149, 23 February 1916, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED MONDAYS, WEDNESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. "We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice." WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1916 " RAISING THE WIND."

Ihe rcon interesting teature of last week's meeting of the Pukekohe Borough Council was the somewhat astonishing ar.d unexpected statement contriouted by Cr Roadley that the Finance Committee had solved the problem of finance aud would be in a posiUm to find money in plenty tor the Council's requirement?, the naural inference b:ing that whether drainage or water schemes, were concerted the attendant outlays would not be an insurmountable difficulty. Cr Roadley, however, refrained from giving his tello-v Councillors, who were not members ot the Finance Committer, any particulars of the nibgician's art as unfolded by the CummitK", eI though a disclosure was promised in due ccurse, Having regard to things es they are it seems certain, however, th3t the Finance Committee cannot evolve such a scheme of ricir'3 ns hinted at by Cr Roadley. Tr.v Council's powers t:i rais? money, independent of consent by the rate payers, are limited. Onlv two courses are practical 11.I 1 . With the General Ra'e mw standing at a penny it is open to the Council to raise it U its legui limit of lid. and further to collect various special rates, which so iar have been allowed to remain dormant by the Council by rea.-on c! their contingent liabilities being provided lor out of the General Hate. If the latter course were alone ac'optcd the effect would be identical with the raising of the General Kate. We are certainly of the opinion that a majority oi tha Council would not be found willing to thrust on the ratepayers any extra lojdl taxation when in van us directions they are called upon to meet ad ditional provision lor war require ments. In any cas-\ however, it woulid seem absurd to suggest that even the collection of special rates and an addition ot one half-penny on the General Kaf.e v..ould BUlli.cs for the carrying through of drainage or water proposals. Conse quently, if such were proceeded with there appears little doubt but that tbe- Councillors agreeing to :

such a cjurse could be personally called on to shoulder the burden whilst they woulJ also lay themselves open to diveisc penalties for exceeding their authority.

It may posßibly, however, be suggested that the Council could so arrange liability that instalments might be spread over various years. Such would, however, not only be tying th2 hands of a future Council, but its legality is certainly open (o doubt, apart frjm the probability that the Council would hardly be able to induce any institution or any person to lend money on security which would under such circumHtancsa be hazardous.

Moreover, a loan ia barred by war legislation, th.3 Act of last session prohibiting a local authority during the present war with Germany from borrowing ur contracting to borrow any money (otherwise than by bank overdraft within the limits of it 3 powers) from any source without th 3 precedent consent of the 'Jovemor-in-Council unless a valid contract fur the proposed loan has be:n made between the le:ider and the borrower before the passing of th? Act. Then, again, the Council's poweis in regard to an overdraft at the bank are limited. In the ordinary course of tilings a local authority is enabled te secure an overdraft to the extent of the previous year's ravenin. In fb.3 casj of Pukekohs, however the Hack cf New Zealand (the Council's bankers) takes up the stand that by reason ot a previous Council haviog raised a loan to pay off itß overdraft the Council's limitof overdraft at the chse of a financial year, i.e., March olst, can only be to the extent of outstanding rates. On Marca Hist naturally the overdraft must accordingly be more or less nil, and therefore co-operation on the part of the Bank ia hardly fea3ihh

UnJer all th: circumstances, unless Councillors are willing to risk possibly heavy personal liability, it hardly seems likely that Cr Koadley's bold declaration on behalf of the finance Committee can lead to much development.

In another way last week's Council meeting certainly "cleared the air," namely, in regard to the matter of aawers being laid on private property. Mr T. F. Martin, the eminent (louns.l of the Municipal Association of New Zealand, has advise J the Council that owners are entitled to compensation if private property is commandeered for the 1 avi r tr of sewers. Possibly, however, the cost of construction of sewers in the streets wculd not be greater than it they were laid on private premises and a good deal of opposition that was forthcoming trom ownr-rs, whose properties were concerned, will accordingly be avoided, thus materially improving the prospects of success of any future drainage scheme when subnutted to the ratepayers