YESTERDAY'S POLL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 245, 6 March 1913, Page 4

YESTERDAY'S POLL.

The carrying of the loans for street improvement and electric trams yesterday was, after the tenor of the meeting of ratepayers on Friday last, a foregone conclusion, but that they shoultf be carried by such decisive majorities as prevailed could scarcely have been anticipated by even their most ardent supporters. The next thing to do is to arrange for the raising of the money. Judging from their recent remarks, some of the councillors do not anticipate any difficulty on this score. We hope their confidence will not be misplaced. But we arc just a little afraid that unless financial matters improve soon, the raising of the money will not be as easy some of the advocates of the loan anticipate. Still, only a small portion of the money will be required at once, and this fact will "ho doubt help in negotiating the loans. The spending of the money is an important matter. It is for ratepayers themselves to say to whom this duty shall be entrusted. The elections will take place shortly, and we hope that the services of the best men in the town will then be placed at the disposal of ratepayers. Of late men well qualified to serve, and who in every way would make desirable representatives, have shown no disposition to come forward, but now that the important schemes approved yesterday are to be undertaken, it becomes a duty greater than ever that the town's destinies should be guided by the most capable and businesslike men in the community. We do not wish to disparage the pcrsoimal. of the present Council. They have, as a whole, done good work in many respects, work which, Ave believe, entitles them to the thanks of the ratepayers. But there is no gainsaying the fact that a leaven 01 new blood, able and experienced in matters of business, would be of advantage in the administering of the new loans and the carrying on of the development work of the borough. We have no doubt that all sections of ratepayers, whatever the views they hold regarding the purposes for which the loans have been authorised, will now unite, and help in every way they can to successfully give effect to the schemes approved at the poll yesterday.