The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1937. TO-MORROW’S POLL.

Evening Star, Issue 22628, 21 April 1937, Page 10

The Evening Star WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1937. TO-MORROW’S POLL.

In a previous issue we set out pojnts in connection with the City Council’s proposal to raise a loan of £IOO,OOO for street improvements and ether works. The arguments in favour of the scheme as advanced by the mayor were outlined, and words of warning given on the dangers involved! in lavish spending on civic enterprises. Such advice is surely timely, for it cannot have escaped observation that the tendency at the moment is to disburse public moneys with an open hand. No matter what attempts are made to disguise the real issue, this is wrapped up with the matter of rates. Are the people of the city content to run the risk of having their rates substantially increased? Most people believe that they are quite high enough already, especially as they are faced with the problem of mounting costs for commodities and services. We pointed out, as is perfectly true, that the ratepayers have the matter in their own hands. It is for them to say yea or nay to the council’s proposal to borrow the money. The article referred to did not please Cr Silverstone, who thought that we should “ advise the people to vote for the loan.” This is characteristic of the somewhat intolerapt and dictatorial attitude adopted by the chairman of the Council’s Finance Committee. But another view must be taken of this matter, which so greatly concerns the ratepayers’ pockets. Incidentally, Cr Silverstone is dissatisfied with the franchise as it stands, and he would like to see it enlarged by including persons who are not property owners, Cr Silverstone has said that if the loan is floated it may mean an addition of IJd to the rates, but the mayor denies that this will happen, and their joint statement has been made to the effect that it is not intended that the special rate which it is necessary to strike for securing the annual charges on the loan shall be collected. However this may work out, the main fact is that if £IOO,OOO is borrowed it will be a liability and will have to be paid for. In any case, the state of the trading departments, on which new burdens have been put by shorter hours, restored cuts, and l higher costs in other directions, suggests a tendency to, increase rates.

There is a feeling abroad that the loan proposal has been devised as much for the benefit of the unemployed as for street improvements, and the natural view is put forward that provision for the unemployed is a matter for the Government, which has professed so much confidence in its ability to solve the problem. It cannot be denied that there is much discontent with the rate of progress on works which have been carried out by the unemployed. There is also distrust of the present council’s financial policy, ratepayers discerning in it a departure from the prudent measures of past councils. Or Silverstone has invited us td advise the citizens to yote for the loan. We cannot do that. Costs are rising at a disturbing rate, the council is committed to the floating of another loan of £IOO,OOO for housing, for which a poll will not be taken, and the present rate of expenditure suggests the advisability of not undertaking further obligations in the meantime. Ratepayers who judge the issues differently, or who think it of first importance that a particular street which they may use should be improved, will doubtless support the loan, but it would not be consistent with our judgment to recommend them to do so. Before embarking on a scheme involving a snm of £IOO,OOO it would be wiser to wait till the position in regard to the city’s civic administration becomes clearer, with another council controlling the city’s affairs. A large proportion of the ratepayers are people of small means, and they find their taxation imposts embarrassing enough already. They will hardly be likely to view with equanimity the possibility of extra burdens being put on them.