MT. EDEN LOAN PROPOSALS.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 253, 23 October 1909, Page 5

MT. EDEN LOAN PROPOSALS.

POLLING DAY. The Mt. Eden Borough Council's loan proposals, which involve a total sum of £52,000. of which it is proposed to expend £33,200 on improvement works in the district, including £29.700 for forming and metalling roads, £2000 to provide water mains in No. 2 water area, £1000 for municipal swimming baths, and £500 for a central site upon which to erect municipal buildings, while the remaining £18,800 is to be devoted towards redeeming special loans, are receiving the vote of Mt. Eden ratepayers to-day, the four polling places being: the Borough Chambers, Mt. Eden-road; St. Barnabas' Hall, Belle Vue-road; Roakill Hall, Do-minion-road; and the Auckland Meat Company's premises, opposite Cucksey's store, Mt Eden-road.

During the morning fairly brisk voting took place at the principal booth, the Borough Chambers, but at the remaining three places matters were quiet. It ia anticipated, however, that before the closing hour of 7 o'clock a good proportion of the 2500 ratepayer.? on the roll will have recorded their opinion, the result of which will probably be announced by the returning officer (Mr A. Robins) somewhere in the vicinity of S o'clock. OPPOSITION MEETING. The Roskill Hall held an overflowing audience last night to hear Mr. Hall Skelton's arguments against the Mount Eden Borough loan proposals, the poll for which is proceeding to-day. Mr. A. L. McKinstry presided. Mr." Skelton addressed the assembly on similar lines to those he had followed on the Wednesday evening, his arguments evidently meeting with the approval of the greater part of the gathering. At the conclusion of his remarks a number of ratepayers came forward and expressed their opinions for and against the proposals, after which the following resolution was carried a very large majority: "That this meeting protests against the loan proposals of Mayor Oliver Nicholson and the Borough Council, on the grounds following: (1) That the borough would be thrown head and ears into debt when it has to meet shortlj- another greater loan for drainaae purposes; (2) that any loan proposal which does not incorporate the drainage question is inadequate; (3) that this meeting is of opinion that the financial basis upon which the loan is proposed to be raised is unsound; (4) that the ratepayers at this meeting assembled demand that any future loan money should be specifically allocated to works upon which an engineer's estimate has been made."