NOT THE RIGHT WAY

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 53, 6 March 1929, Page 8

NOT THE RIGHT WAY

The preamble to Councillor Mitchell's motion concerning access proposals

reads:—

That in view of tho .complications which may arise as the result of the resolutions to submit to a poll of the ratepayers certain votes in their prosent form for the eastern and western suburbs access routes, and of. the Council's duty to endeavour if ( possible to carry out the pastern suburbs access proposals under the loan authorised by the ratepayers in 1920.

A. correct preamble would have been:—

That in view of the possibility of a poll of the ratepayers being unfavourable to loan proposals, and the Council's desire, therefore, to do what it has determined without giving the ratepayers an opportunity of preventing it.

There can bo no avoiding the facts in this business. The subject has been before the Council in Committee for many days. When it is now brought into the open with prepared and specious arguments it is'yet abundantly plain that the result of a loan poll is beared. Therefore all possible ingenuity has been exercised to avoid such a poll. If tho Council perceives that there is a possibility of the loan being rejected, that is tho strongest reason for taking a poll. If may be that such rejection would be unwise; but if so the consequences would be upon the ratepayers. The Council would not be to blame. Councillor Mitchell excused the Council's conduct by the plea: "The temper of the people, both east and west, would be such that we should not get a. fair and reasonable expression of opinion." The remedy is not to block any expression of opinion, but to submit tho proposals candidly and support them by a campaign to convince the people of their reasonableness. .-,■

.There can be no doubt whatever that proposals such as the Council has in view are exactly such as the Legislature contemplated when it provided for loan polls. The polls can be dispensed with only by taking advantage of legislation not intended to cover such cases. Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the Council is right in using a loan authority granted nine years ago, it ij yet admitted that tho work cannot be completed without further borrowing. This may be compared up to a point by misuso of legislative powers—an unemployment loan for the approaches. We say "inisu.ij" advisedly, for the power to raise unemployment loans was intended to meet an emergency by enabling the Council to raise money quickly—not to outwit tho ratepayers by raising money for purposes which would not be approved on a poll. But even with such methods used on the East and on the West, we are of opinion thaf ultimately there will have to be a poll. On the East the Cominis-

sion's recommendation was for a scheme to cost £260,000, apart from the" Ruahine street extension. The Council has departed from that scheme, and it cannot now plead the full support of the Commission. Even so, its proposals are estimated to cost £237,598. It .as authority to raise £161,250, and it may provide for ap-proaches-by the unemployment loan expedient. It will still have to go to the electors for money to lay tramway tracks.' The argument will then be: "We have spent £200,000 and the work is not finished. If you want to have a re.turn for that expenditure you must sanction a further £25,000. ' Such an argument would be allowable if ; the additional cost were unforeseen. It is not excusable when the' Council knows perfectly well that it cannot completo the work within the limits set. ■

•In writing thus of the Council's action we make no comment upon the merits of the proposals; but we do most strongly contend that no proposal in•volved vis so good that it excuses such a procedure., The Legislature has laid down specifically the classes of works which are so essential tat) the public well-being that their provision shall not be subject to the caprice of the ratepayers. These works do not come in that category. If the arguments in favour of the works are so overwhelming the Council need have no hesitation in seeking popular sanction. It can take the roundabout route only by holding that the ratepayers are so perversely stupid as not to.sec the advantages of schemes which are evident to the supci.tor wisdom of the Council. Quintan's Corner was quoted, and the Council's obligation to the War Memorial Committee and the Government. Is it suggested that the ratepayers in the mass cannot be trusted to give due attention to such obligations if the obligations have .been properly entered into? Tho Council has resolved pn its course; but we aro firmly convinced that it would be wiser, even at this late

stage, to treat the electors with greater candour. The people in the mass tire not unreasonable or obstinate. They will ajiprove sound proposals which are submitted to them with perfect frankness. If, however, the Council chooses to follow the course of evasion, one thing must be insisted on: That no money shall be spent upon approaches or other works which are useful only as part of the bigger schemes. Tho principle of Councillor W. H. Bennett's motion (only partly covered by tho subsequent resolution moved by the Mayor) was the one commendable feature in tho Council's handling of this

subject,