The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1913. THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 43, 19 February 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post. WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1913. THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

The Council of the Borough of Stratford has now given the necessary formal notice of its proposals to borrow (1) £20,000 for street improvements; (2) £12,000 for drainage • extension a ml improvement; (3) £OOOO for widening the Patea bridge; and (4) £4OOO for waterworks extension and improvement, making in all a total of £42,000. The present proposals aro the outcome of twelve months’ deliberation and discussion on the part of the Council, during which the Mayor (Mr W. P. Kirkwood) has adhered strenuously to the programme upon which he was elected, despite a good deal of opposition from both within and without the Council. As above indicated, the proposals are placed separately before the ratepayers, presumably on the ground that certain ratepayers who would be opposed to tin' raising of the whole sum of £42,000, might feel justified in supporting one or other of the proposals as now placed before them, but it is quite possible that the separating of the issues may induce a parochialism which, if aroused, will go far to defeat all four proposals.., Though it is generally conceded that judicious borrowing for necessary ivories is essential for the advancement and progress of the Borough, it is extremely difficult to gauge public feeling at this stage, but the ratepayers have certainly had the matters dealt with placed very fully before them and ought to be able to judge for themselves. The largest sum which they are asked to authorise is £20,000 to form, construct and generally improve the streets and footpaths’. That the streets and footpaths of Stratford Borough need improvement is very apparent!; and it is equally obvious that such improvements its scheduled to be carried out if this loan is carried can m-ver be done out of ordinary revenue. The second proposal is foi drainage extension £12,000, which sum includes £ISOO to make advances in connection with the execution of drainage and sanitary works on private properties, to be, of course, repaid by the owners thereof. The health of the town is so closely allied with good drainage that it is certain strong support for this scheme will be lortbcoming. The third proposal deals with the renewal of Victoria Bridge , ZJZ* .V.fcSr

over the Patca river, for which £OOO9 is required; Though doubtless desirable, this work is held by a great many ratepayers to be cue that might very well stand over for a time, and wo should say the chances of this loan being carried are probably the leas*, likely of the four proposals under review. It would lie a very marked improvement to have the bridge the full width of ]sroadway, but whether or not the expenditure is warranted at this time is a moot point. Rate-

payers must, however, remember that quite recently competent engineers made an exhaustive report on the condition of this bridge and arrived at the conclusion that no less than £ISOO will have to ho expended in repairing and strengthening the present struc-ture—one-fourth of the cost of an entirely new bridge the full width of the street, and practically done uifci. for all time. The fourth proposal, to borrow £IOOO for waterworks improvement and extension is one thav ought to meet with very little opposition unless the feelings of the ratepayers is altogether against bon owing for any purpose whatever. A good and reliable water supply, adequate for the Borough’s requirements, ought to be a first necessity, and until a better method of filtration at the intake is provided, such as the present scheme contemplates, wo cannot obtain it. Ratepayers have now some three weeks to further make upj their minds as to what they want and! what course they will pursue in their own best interests and in the interests of the Borough as a whole, the polling on the four proposals being fixed to take place on March 19th. Already several interesting letters have appeared in our columns voicing individual views, and we shall be glad to receive other correspondence bearing on the proposals. 1 The present stage is an important one in the town’s history, and ratepayers must look at the position broadly and with open minds.