THE GREY LYNN LOAN.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 51, 1 March 1909, Page 4

THE GREY LYNN LOAN.

The residents of Grey Lynn should be congratulated heartily on the result of Saturday's poll. The loan proposals have been so often discussed by us that further comment upon them here should be superfluous; and we have already given sufficiently emphatic expression to PUT conviction that the ratepayers would do well to accept the bank's offer, and take advantage of the opportunity to secure the money required for roading the district on sucli exceptionally favourable terms. TJhat public opinion in Grey Lynn was with us was evidenced clearly enough by the voting on Saturday. The majorities by which the two loan proposals were carried were very substantial, for out of some 650 ratepayers who went to the poll, considerably less than 200 were opposed to the measures we have advocated. We may remark incidentally that the people of Grey Lynn hardly rose to the occasion, for out of a total number of 1945 ratepayers on the rolls, only about 35 per cent seem, to have recorded their votes. We may reasonably assume that the great majority of those opposed to the loans made a point of voting, and the poll, therefore, shows that the scheme we have supported is very generally acceptable to the section of the public chiefly concerned. We cannot help regretting the comparative lack of public spirit evinced by the large number of ratepayers who did not take the trouble , to vote; but we Eave not the least doubt that Grey Lynn has taken the best possible course. The Mayor and the Councillors who have promoted this scheme deserve the thanks of the borough for the energy they have displayed. Mr. Sayers in particular has had a hard battle to fight, and it is largely owing to his courage and perseverance that the victory has been secured. We do not exaggerate the importance of this matter; for if the people of Grey Lynn had let this chance go by, it would not have recurred, and the loss to the district, and indirectly to the city. would have been both serious

and irreparable. As it is, Grey Lyim

has every reason to be gratified by the adoption, of a policy that will assuredly -promote- the rapid progress and development of the borough, and will secure 'important material benefits to its residents on exceedingly easy terms.