THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS. FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1916 PUKEKOHE'S LOAN POLL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 201, 18 August 1916, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED ON TUESDAY AND FRIDAY AFTERNOONS.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 18, 1916 PUKEKOHE'S LOAN POLL.

" We nothing extenuate, nor »et down auoht in malice."

Whether carried or not at the poll of ratepayers next Wednesday the loan proposals of the I'ukekobe Borough Council have, judged by the satisfactory attendance at the public meeting held last Tuasday to consider the schemes, been responsible for an awakening of interest in municipal affairs that should tend for the ultimate good of the town. Too long have the majority of residents exhibited indifference to what in going on around them, and the result of general apathy has been that i'ukekohe lacks in many respects facilities and conveniences that form an integral part of the equipment of any town that aims at hcing included among the more important municipalities of the Dominion. The Council can, whatever happens in regard to the issue now at stake, accordingly take credit to themselves for arousing the people of the community to a sense of their citizenship, and it is to be hoped that this new development will be attended by a full vote of ratepayers being secured next Wednesday,' whether tor or against the loan, so that some decided expression of public opinion may guide the Council in their deliberations.

Uf the loan propjsals it is evident that the suggested installation of electric light meets with general approval, and if the ratepayers had been asked to vote on it as entirely distinct from other contingencies of the loan it would doubtless have been authorised. The Council, however, have apparently taken the course ol combining th2 installation of electric lighting with a re-modelling ot the water supply system in order that the latter should profit by the public desire for electric lighting. Cr Roadley, to whom the credit is solely due for electric lighting being introduced as a municipal undertaking, has by letters in these columns conclusively proved that the present "resting" hours of the engine operating at the power house could be advantageously employed in generating electricity, and thus that electric lighting is not necessarily dependent on the ratepayers signifying approval of the combined water and lighting scheme. In other words, electric lighting, in the event ot the present combined loaa rot meeting with requisite support, will still be possible if reintroduced for loan purposes on its own merits. The Mavor moreover

at the meeting of ratepayers made admission that Cr Koadley's contentions were correct subject to certain modifications. Cr Barter was, however, responsible lor the surprising statement that if not combined with the water scheme an additional outlay of £SOOO would be required tor electric lighting. We wonder whether Cr Barter is aware that the complete cost ct the power houar, its engine acd pumps included, was less than £2500. As a matter of tact, even if an additional engine was installed as an auxiliary for generating electricity iti cost would not exceed £SOO.

We are of opinion that the Council, to further the prospects ot the loan being carried by dispelling doubts that exist in regard to the water scheme would have been wisa to have adopted the suggestion of the Ratepayers' Association that further expert advice should te

obtained. '!*'■'» derision that lh

W?,itiw.iika ftfH'ii.eer *U<>u\<\ ''any

out the scheme under Mr Mc

Arthur's supervision has tbe week point that Mr McArthur is not in practice as a consulting engineer. Mr McArthur holds the appointment of engineer to the Piako County Council, with leadquarters at Te Aroha, and with bis time tally occupied in that capacity it is beyond reason tu think that his duties to the Piako Couoty Council will permit him to bestow such regular and adequate control on water matters in Pckekobe as will be essential to tbe success ot the scheme. There it yet time for the Council to give re-consideration to the matter, and wc have very little doubt but that if the Council is prepared to act so as to remove piesent objections the majinty ot the ratepayeis will be found willing next Wednesday to vole the munev that is asked for.