ELECTRIC LIGHT LOAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 99, 22 September 1914, Page 4

ELECTRIC LIGHT LOAN.

To-day the ratepayers of the borough or Ncvr Plymouth are asked to decide whether or not a further loan of £20,000 shall be obtained for eleetrie light and power purposes. Tho loan money ia required to bring the borough electrical service for lighting and power purposes (exclusive of the tramways) up to date, and to provide for the growing nocds of Greater New Plymouth. It should be remembered that up to the present, although the amount borrowed by tho Council for the electric service of the town amounts to close upon £39,000, the ratepayers have not been called upon to contribute one penny in rates towards electric light expenditure. It is equally manifest that as the borough grows—and tho Greater New Plymouth scheme baa largely extended its area—that the services in all departments musr. expand. No sano business man would attempt to carry on a business for SOOO i customers with tho same machinery that barely sufficed for half that number. To bo of service to this whole community there must lie enough and to spare of electric current, and this entails the additional expenditure that is now represented by tho loan on which to-day's poli is to be taken. If ait)' ratepayer has a doubt as to the soundness of the eleetrie light undertaking as a business proposition, lie need only look at tho result, of the working of this department since its inauguration, and lie will find that it lias paid its way well. Large sums have been written oil each year for depreciation, and last year, in addition to this very proper provision, after paying all expenses, including interest and sinking fund, £1897 was paid over to the general or district fund, thereby relieving the general rates to i&t extent. In these days the better a

business ia equipped the greater arc the profits, and there is no doubt that the ratepayers o! the borough will be well advised to vote for the loan. It is to their best interests to do so, for the business is their own, and all the profits go to ease their burden of rates. The money is needed to meet increased requirements for some time to come. We have that reliance on ;he good sense of the ratepayers that precludes the possibility of any appreciable opposition being made to such a businesslike proposal as the extension and completion of the present electric plant.