The Wairarapa Daily THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1887. THE BOROUGH FINANCES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2718, 6 October 1887, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1887. THE BOROUGH FINANCES.

When gas was first projected in Masterton, Mr George, the well-known engineer, made an offer to the Borough .Council to supply the town if certain concessions were made to the Company which he proposed to form, We supported the offer made, by Mr George at the timo, because the town would, had it been accepted, have obtained gas without incurring any liability, and without burdening the rates. However the then Borough Council most unwisely decided to construct gas works themselves, and by a series of blunders which are usually committed by men undertaking a business iu which they ara inexperienced they have landed the town in a serious financial muddle. . A. gas rate is now. struok, and it is thought that other speoial rates for lighting and forcharitable aid will have to be resorted to. To make both ends meet it would appear that the Council will almost have-to double the rates whioh have hitlierfco been oolleoted. Every step taken by the Council of late seems' to have been in a wrong direction,, even the. division of the Borough into wards has increased the number of ' Councillors, and consequently the cost .of administration. The smaller body was able to control | the affairs of the Borough better than the larger-one. There are now anumber of' 'excellent men in the Counoil, but tho Borough business has got into such a state.that'it is not easy even for good men to pull things straight. Tho new rate, especially if it be followed by other special levies, will certainly rouse the ratepayers to •take.a.keen interest in. tho affairs of the' Borough. If they can devise any means by which the main difficulty —the gas works-can be disposed of so much-the better, but we fear that

for some years to come the ratepayers will have to pay heavy'rates, and we shall have to make the best of a bad; job. V