THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 59, 11 March 1913, Page 5

THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

UNDER WHICH KING, STRATFORDIANS P

(To the Editor “Stratford Post.”) Sir, —For one who does not wish to try and influence the ratepayers, Mr King makes a pretty good special pleader for the loan. His experience as Mayor and Councillor will carry weight. It is strange, however, how the same experience will lead men to entirely opposite conclusions. Not so long ago there was a Mr King standing for office, and on the stage of the Stratford Town Hall he warned the ratepayers in the most solemn manner against a borrowing policy, giving them the benefit of his experience as a councillor and citizen during the dreary years that followed tlie spending of the last loan. However, the King of to-day may bo a wiser man than he of a year or two hack. Let us seo what ho has to say :Firsfc, we must “keep up appearances,” ho as smart as our neighbours, or a bit smarter. Hang the expense. It will cost us a good bit more than other towns, because our streets are so wide, but never mind. Even when they are all made out of borrowed money, the upkeep will be higher than in other places. Still, we must “keep up appearances” at all costs.- Now I was in one of these swell towns the other day, and certainly the concreted gutters and

kerbing looked very nice and up-to-1 date but—there were more shops to let than we should like to see in Stratford. There is such a thing as putting all your money on your back and letting another part of your anatomy go empty, in municipal as well as in private affairs. Mr King’s views on water-supply call for little comment, except that increased pressure can readily and cheaply be secured by ceasing to supply power. Drainage is a different ‘matter, and, if necessary for the health of one part of the town is necessary for other parts. It is admittedly a great convenience, but why should the whole town pay for the convenience of the few? The bridge is too tough a proposal for Mr King’s digestion, and even some southerners find it so. There follows the regulation screed, about the splendid future, in which, ! by-tho-bye, I notice that it is taken j for granted that the Opunake railway will junction at Stratford. There is one other contention of Mr Km" s, j one which I should have thought his! experience would have taught him i I was unreliable. He says the spending of the money will be spread over a number of years. Now, if I know anything of human nature, the ratepayers of, say, Caliban Avenue are not going to wait years for improvements, while Prospero Road is attended to at once.—Yours etc.. T. H. PENN. 1 March 11th, 1913.