BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSAL

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 516, 23 March 1920, Page 3

BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSAL

EX MAYOR IN SUPPORT

The ex-Mayor of Pukekohe (Mr.. 11. G. R. Mason. M.A.) writes as follows on the Pukekohe Borough loan proposal:— Sir,—You are to be congratulated upon the alert attitude you have displayed towards the Pukekohe Borough loan proposal. In fact, had it not been for you/i? urging of the matter, the facts suggest that at the end of the present council's term of office the proposals would not have been in a very different position from what they were when the council assumed office, and there can be no doubt that a "go-slow" policy is not the right one for our borough. It is well for the ratepayers to consider the borough loan proposals as a whole rather than be lost in a discussion of detail, which must inevitably be left to the council. It is clear that the general policy of the council is the right one. No one suggests the contrary or proposes an alternative policy. In fact, it was ; clear to the council which carried the last loan proposal in Pukekohe nearly four years ago- that immediately upon the conclusion of the war we should require loan proposals, which in essentials are the proposals now before the people, and the succeeding council actually entered upon the preparation of the proposals. The essential policy of the proposals therefore has the approval of three successive councils. The essential elements are the items for drainage, roads, extensions to waterworks and electric works, and the combination of all these in one proposal. I

do not moan that the other item? are unimoortant. But the items I have mentioned are vital, and their combination in one proposal is vital. Some ratepayers, seeing thai the total loan is for a larger amount, than what they have been used to, wish the proposals were separated, that they may vote only for what will directly benefit them. But if they considered they would know that other ratepayers would then adopt a similar attitude, and vote for one or two proposals and against the rest. A majority against each proposal would be thus assured, to the disappointment of everybody. It is therefore futile to object to the loan proposal because the amount is large, or because it contains proposals, some of which are not a direct benefit to all ratepayers. The present proposal or one like it in essentials, is the only proposal that will adequately meet the requirements of the borough, and is also the only proposal that has a chance of commending itself-to a majority of the ratepayers. As for the amount of the loan, I may say that it was perfectly clear to the last council (which had not before it all the information the present council now has) that the proposal would require to be for a sum in excess of £50,000.

We now have the best opportunity we ever had of substituting a muchneeded drainage system for our present insanitary system. This particular opportunity we have been awaiting for a long time, and we should not lot it pass. There is onlv one. sensible policy for a borough like ours, and that is to make it a place to which it is a pleasure to everyone to come. The number of people who come into the township is practically the measure of the town's prosperity. I suppose first-class roads are the chief item in making it a pleasure for people to come here, and the loan proposals contemplate (loins the main roads in a style that will give a surface like King Street, but better, because not constructed with the severe economy that had to be exercised in making that street. I think .that we may congratulate His Worship the Mayor in that his attitude towards modern roads, eloc tricfty and other improvements is the reverse of wha%: it was a year ago. When bituminous roads reach the borough boundary, the County Council cannot fail to continue thorn. In a recent report of a Franklin County Council meeting it appeared as if the County Councillors believed the late Borough Council left unfinished those roads leading to the county in order to cut off the borough from the. county. I suppose it is unnecessary to contradict such a grotesque suggestion. Lack of money alone .prevented completion of such work, to the Borough Council's very great regret. But it is well to point out that those proposals will get over that difficulty. The housewives of Pukekohe have a special and distinct interest in the improvements we may expect as a result of this loan. Already some of them know the great convenience electricity is, not onlv for lighting but for ironing, radiators, for cooking, for driving fans and sewing machines. The ashes of the coal we use in Pukekohe are so fine that after cleaning out a fireplace the whole room may require dusting. The total work incidental to lighting a fire in the grate may therefore be considerable. With an electric radiator it is a matter of turning on a switch. Housewives who live near main roads will appreciate the abatement of the dust nuisance that will follow the | extension of bituminous roads a-: a result of this loan. Shopkeepers in King Street have remarked to me upon the wonderful difference in thai street in that respect alone. Tli, re is no doubt that if one enterprising housewife he;'e commences to wash clothes by electricity, ihe olhers will - i demand a simp i;,r emancipation from the present ■ lrude.e v. The new town hall should indoubtcdlv contain a rest-room for men mid children, a comfort that will almost certainly not he forthcoming otherwise. Bui to gel this the women will require themselves to .;,.,. that the matter is not List sight ~f. Modern business life tends to ,j, velop a pu fly profit-making point of view, and matters that do not l(iid to profit-making, no matter how desirable thev may be from every • 'her |« rfitini'ite point of view, are liable to be lost sight of. There are no profits to be made out (if the supply of utilities by the Borough Council to housewives, and consequently the point of \iew of the housewife becomes obscured unless she herself takes care thai if is not. The women of Pukekohe must themselves urge the point, and a rest-room will be provided in the now town hall without any difficulty,

sed, I think they will decide thai belter general policy would be ■<i In devi.se; thai questions of deI wliirli have been raised do not lifj rejection of the policy, that ihe oiojKis.ils be rejected in order it details may be improved, it .is thai a. more timid and quite inadequate policy would be substituted, leading to future difficulties; and thai the present policy is reasonable and moderate by comparison with what is being; done by other munici'litirs. and that the proposals cannot be rejected without definitely placini;' our tew n in a hrckwa'd position unworthy of the district and its wealth. And even if the voter is not concerned with getting any eomfoil out of life, but has onlv the ambition to die very rich, he will be well advised to vote for the policy of progress, for direct and indirect 'b ucial advantage to all the people of I'ukekohe, the improvements will . ■ worth many times their cost. 11. G. R. MASON.