The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday at Noon. TUESDAY, MARCH 16. 1920. INFORMATION SUPPLIED.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 514, 16 March 1920, Page 2

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday at Noon.

TUESDAY, MARCH 16. 1920. INFORMATION SUPPLIED.

"We nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice."

In--a circular now being distributed through the post office to every ratepayer in the Borough, the Pukekohe Borough Council sets forth, in clear and concise language, its loan proposal. We counsel the ratepayers to peruse this circular carefully, foi therein will be found many cogent reasons for why the loan proposal should be carried. It is especially significant that the drainage and sewerage scheme is estimated to cost probably not more than one-fifth of penny in the CI more than the householders are now paying forf an inadequate sanitary service. It may also be repeated that the electricity plant is working at its maximum load; in fact, though the circular does not state so. the present plant would break down if the whole of the power and lighting load were placed on at the same time which is likely to happen during the short wintei I days when the power motors beingused by various firms and the houses . and street lighting may be all going at once, say, from about 4.30 p.m. till 5 p.m. The most important feature is that of finance, and it is gratifying to note the Council's assurance that, owing to the very gradual expenditure of loan money, probably only Id in the U, or less, will be required to be levied in any one year to pay interest and sinking fund. The special rate of is a legal necessity owing to the loan being short-dated, -but as the loan, if car- ! ried, can and will be renewed after ' the first decade, this is the most economical procedure. It may also be noted that the'e will be no special raft' during the currency of the first year, on account of the interest and sinking fund for that term being embodied in the loan itself, which is iho usual method. Some people profess being af.'aid that a revaluation of the Borough will greatly increase their contributions. Wo'do not think so, seeing" that the Council has been most careful to state that no more rates will be levied than are necessary to cove; the cost as now outlined. To t'rike undue advantage of a revaluation for this purpose would be a moral wrong that could never be sanctioned by conscientious councillors, or sanctioned by the public, if the values weio increased a eorres-

jif .nrl i nr; reduction won Id doubtless

he made in the rating; this paper, at any rat", would roundly, persistently, and consistently condemn a Council which did not abide I'Y the spirit of its assurances to the ratepayers. We do not state that a revaluation will not take place: it is morally and legally certain to come. Recently ten acres in the Borough, valued at '.35 an acre for rating pur-

poses, were sold for U55 an acre

We understand that another ten acres, similarly valued, are selling for t2o<) an aero. With this sort of thin»' going on it is high time a revaluation was effected. The Government valuers, however, are busy: valuing' counties, and will be so engaged for about three years, and therefore borough revaluations must wait until the counties are finished. If the loan is carried, the Borough Council will not need t*> worry about revaluations, but if the proposal is turned

down, the Council, being sorelv in

need .*>f funds for both maintenance ;ind new works, will be hound to press for a revaluation at the earliest possible date. Also, as previously stated, a loan, making good roads possible, would reduce the cost of the upkeep of what are now bad ones, and it is quite probable

that the genera! ;<ate will be reduced from 1 1 ■ d to Id. AH things considered. a loan slratld make the financial bu den much lighter than it now is In comparison with present and prospective bene!';'-;. But we need not anticipate; it is sufficient to state tint munn-ipall.' things are at a standstill ng to the lack of funds for commencing new wo*k;'the 'oan i- the on! ,' ; ; ..eUcahle and proiitable way out. tlieiol'oie it would be a piece of suicidal folly to fail to carry the proposal to be subsided en Wednesday, March 21, in 'lie Borough Council Chambers, Edinburgh Street.