The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1920. JUDICIOUS EXPENDITURE.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 543, 25 June 1920, Page 3

The Times. Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. Motto: Public service. FRIDAY, JUNE 25, 1920. JUDICIOUS EXPENDITURE.

Many ratepayers in the borough of Pukekoho are eager to learn what steps, if any, the Borough Council is taking towards expending first instalments of loan moneys sanctioned in the 5:84,000 loan. Though it is approximately three months since the poll was carried, no information has been given as to whether or not supplies of materials for the various works are in sight. The fact that no public statement on these matters has yet been made does not necessarily mean that there are not any orders for materials now being exe cuted; we should be very much surprised if the electric lighting and waterworks plant and materials have not been on order for some months past. But the two things the ratepayers are mostly concerned about arc the roads and the prospective drainage and sewage system, the former being of vital importance to the progress and even the present convenience of the place, and the latter being necessary for health reasons. Though no one is foolish enough to expect any road works of magnitude to be undertaken during the wet months, the citizens would feel much more satisfied if they could be assured that the council had all its plans worked out in detail for the securing of the metal supply and the delivery of the same on the roac 1 ; as soon as the weather permits a commencement of the permanent work. There is necessarily a lot of spade work to be done, and if full advantage is to be taken of the summer months there must be much planning and forethought exercised now. otherwise another winter will ••atrh us in the state we now find ourselves. As trustee for the ratepayers, the council, it is reasonable to £ appose, will come out with a statement for the enlightenment of the people whose money is to be spent; public and private enterprise act and react on each other in any given community, and it is helpful to local business people and residents generally to know just what class of work, and the amount of it, contemplated for a year or so in advance. One thing is certain, namely, that the ratepayers will watch with jealous eyes the progress of the works sanctioned under the l :84,000 loan; if the money is judiciously expended, and the work is free front bungling and questionable practises the town will be benefited immensely for all time. If, on the other hand, the ratepayers are given cause for great dissatisfae--1 lion, it will be many a long year before another loan is carried in Pukekohe. By writing in this strain we do not mean to impute anything to the detriment of the present council, but we think it just as well that the members should be told, in the most public manner possible, that the close-thinking portion of the community is looking with critical eyes on the ventures in hand, and are greatly desirous of the "delivery of the goods" as speedily, efficiently, and in as full measure as possible.