AN £8000 LOAN OR AN EXTRA ½d RATE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 159, 28 March 1916, Page 3

AN £BOOO LOAN OR AN EXTRA ½d RATE.

* (Contributed) (by Scrutator) "When naeds must the Devil drivei," is an old adage the truth of which is often demonstrate! in this wicked world. Therefore, its application at the pres r.t tim? ti the conditions exi ting between ratepayers and their L'o'isn 1 se.nns mo3t opportune, for on tha one band the ratepayers' representa-tives-find tbeimelves sadJlel with a condition of affairs t at always followi financial or bu*Kess incompetence, and which it U impossible for them to mov# unless further fina cial Bid be given, unci on the other band are the ra'ep-iyers with ttj ir pocsets buttoned up wh» eviden lv in the past were too confidirg and libera.) in granting loan-, the bulk of which, to put it in miid st language, were injudiciously speit. Now necessities caused by tne concentration of population within the borough must te provided. Cons.quently, after many I oun of careful study, the Council have decided there are only two ways to make such provision viz, a loan or an extra half-penny rate. So Scrutator makes this endeavour to Htaie, as clearly as posnble, the existing state of affair?, feeling coivir.ee j that once they are laid plaiuly betore ratepayers they will rise to the occasion and give their representatives the opportunity to place the monicipal businees upon a sound footing. £BOOO at G per c:nt represents an added annual liability of £4BO, but rut necesBarilv an added rate for Pukekobe borough. A half-penny rate means an annual charge of £750 added to the rates for Pukekohe borough for every year it is assessed. That is the position iu a nut-shell. bo which will the ratepayers have:' For one or other they must choose ; if not a loan, then an extra halfpenny rate it must be. It the ratepayers will consider the position for themselves there is only one conclusion they will arrive at, and that is a loan for £BOOO. Why '? (1) Because £BOOO placed to the Council's credit will enable them to perfect their water supply and thereby save £4OO per annum now practically wasted. (2) Would allow of extension of water mains to parts of borough needing same. One connection alone now applied for, if it ciuld be granted, would bring in a guaranteed revenue of £25 per annum. (3) Would allow King street to be permanently paved and thereby save an annual expenditure of £3OO (less scavenging), which is now being paid out of rates. For what 1 A sea of mud in winter and and au epidemic-laden dust cloud in summer. (4) Would albw a constant flow of water in channels both sides of King street, thereby preventing the accumulation of germ laden dust iu summer and mud filth in winter.

(5) Would allow the town to be lit by electricity at an infinites'mal cost, thereby supplying an urgent necessity and give comfort and convenience to pedestrians and household* ew.

(6) Would allow a constant flow of fresh pass through the proposed municipal swimming bath, the use of which would not only inculcate habits of cleanliness in the young, but would be a source of recreation and healtb-giving enjoyment for all.

(7) Would allow a surfaceman to be permanently employed on the outer roads of the borough, thereby maintaining several roads that are now practically impassable in winter in an efficient state of repair. (8 > And lastly, the expenditure of £BOOO, when proposed schemes completed ( would not only save ratepayers the annual £4BO interest, but would also give them an added income. Surely ]no ratepayer would object to the borrowing of £BOOO for urgent works when by so doing not only would extra rates be avoided but new income secured.

In any case extra income will have to be provided by ratepayers to allow the Council to carry out urgent and necessary works, therefore the only alternative to a loan will be an increased rate, and what will that mean '} Simply augmenting the Council's income by £750 per annum and that £750 taken directly out of ratepayers' pockets. For what 'i Certainly not to complete the water scheme; certainly not to pave King street; certainly not to light the town. Why? Because £750 collected as a rate would only be as a drop of water in a bucket; it would allow of no scheme of work tQ be ipdertakep to stop the disgraceful annual waste which is now unavoidable but which could be not only absolutely stopped but turned into prolit-making propositions without any extra cost to ratepayers if £BOOO be placed at the Council's disposal. In conclusion. Scrutator asks ratepayers to give live minutes' serious thought to the qbove statement of facts, feeling assured it they do their decision will be a sound business one, viz , to vote for a loan of £BOOO and no increase in tht< rates.