MORE RATEPAYERS.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 512, 9 March 1920, Page 2

MORE RATEPAYERS.

When speaking on local politics, the most frequent question asked in Pukekohe at the present time is, "Will the loan proposals be carried'"/ For our part, we hope so, but we are not going to be rash enough to hazard an opinion one way or the other. Many points of debate arise, but behind most of them is the reluctance to carry heavier rates. While being just as loath to increase our annual cheque to the Borough Council as any other firm or individual, we must admit that if the proposed loan is raised and wisely expended we will be better off in the long run. In the first place, much of the loan will be spent on electric lighting, drainage, and watelf and sewerage services, all of which should be reproductive. If the ratepayers do not instal a drainage and sewerage system the Health Department will probably compel them to shoulder that burden at anyrate. It would not surprise us greatly if the present lack of sanitary provisions caused an epidemic, in which case Pukekohe, with its schools, post office, banks, railway station, might be included in a proclaimed quarantined area. That would be nice and convenient for everybody! The majority of the roads in the borough are almost impassable for car traffic in the wet weather, which state of things prevents many men of means settling here. It would be idle to talk of doing any substantial amount of new work on rates, so here a loan is the only way out, and it should so reduce the cost of upkeep, by enabling the borough t<» have good roads, that the general rates could be substantially reduced. If the services for which the proposed loan is required are provided, there is little doubt that the borough will become much more thickly settled, thereby ensuring a larger number of ratepayers to bear the burden of rates, and this is the greatest prospective gain, as far as the pockets of the present ratepayers are concerned. Whether or not they speak in good faith, it is hard to determine, but some people profess to have no confidence in the Council to carry out such big schemes judiciously. However, we do not see why even these people worry overmuch on that score. It will ho--two years at least before much money can be expended if the proposal is carried, because nearly a year must elapse before any great quaantity of materials could be secured, and work could not be put in hand on a large scale without the necessary gear. By that time some of those who think they could manage municipal affairs better than the present members of the Council have done will have had an opportunity of offering their services to • tfie J»a£e:pqyers; the latter will also 1 havs;j§sh' chance of putting in men thejMjSpf confidence in, if. perchance/ they have been quaint enough in the past to elect representatives who were not a reflection of their (the ratepayers') views. No, we do not see any sound reason for turning down the loan. "It's money that makes the mare go," that is, forward to the winning post, but if the Borough of Pukekohe is going to be singular enough to refuse the money, then the town may go backwards, or at least, its progress will be comparatively slow. The better business would be to equip the place properly with the necessary facilities, just as an enterprising firm extends its premises and increases its machinery to cope with trade offering. In this way population will be attracted, rural land subdivided and h'irden will be