The Hawera Star TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1924. LOCAL BODY LOANS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 16 September 1924, Page 4

The Hawera Star

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1924. LOCAL BODY LOANS.

Delivered every evening by B o'clock in H&wen, Manaia, N'^rmanby. Okaiawa, El thorn, Patea, . Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Ohangai, Ueremcre. Eraser Road, and Otakeuo Uanutabi, Alton, Durleyville, Mangateki, Eaponga, Awatuna, Opunake,

The discussion at the Eltliam County Council upon the question of loans: for local bodies drew attention to a matter of great importance to the Dominion as a whole. • The view has been expressed by the Government that local body loans have grown too great and that some check is necessary, but it is not stated which local bodies have over-borrowed, and the councils that have exercised a keen watch over expenditure do not apparently receive credit for their economy. The question was also discussed by members of the Legislative Council on Friday when the Hon. C. H. Izard protested against . the present system and expressed the opinion that all local body loans should go before a board constituted by the Government, which should decide whether it, was in the interests of the Dominion as well as local bodies that such loans should be borrowed. The total indebtedness of local bodies in the Dominion is £37,000,000, a very large- sum it is true, but had the money not been spent, especially in the case of county councils, would it have been possible to build up the country’s exports of primary produce to the position - that they are in to-day? The farmers’ point of view was clearly expressed by CouneiE lor MeWilliam, who made the definite charge in his motion that “it. is obvious that considerable extravagance in borrowing has been practised by cities and boroughs,’’- while he claimed that the council of which lie is a member had been “exceptionally moderate in its loan proposals.” We suppose that the problem is one that all young countries must face, if they want to develop and bring their lands into production. We believe that between the provision of good roading communication and land settlement there is an important connection, and it is probably because the local bodies in South-Taranaki have been far-sighted and the people have been prepared to carry the burden of loans for providing good roads that this is one .of the most- closely settled rural areas of the Empire. It is impossible to farm the land to the best advantage if proper road - communication is not provided, and anyone who has been into the back country should be able to appreciate the difficulties under which farmers in the more distant, districts are labouring. The making and keeping in repair of rural roads have been in the hands of county councils, and from what we know of the methods adopted in this district we believe that the money has been spent judiciously and efforts have been made to prevent waste, and the roads for which it has been possible to raise the necessary money are a great, credit to the district. . Settlers in the more distant parts have waited patiently for the time when good roads can be made available for them, but with the limitation of the borrowing powers of local

bodies it scents that the ..day -when metal and tar-sealing will replace, the mud is still distant. There may "be need for a change in the system of loans for local bodies, as suggested by Mr. Izard, but looking at the question from the point of view of primary production and closer settlement it seems to us that the country can afford to be more liberal towards settlers than towards the towns and cities. Were Mr. Izard’s proposed board set up and were it made familiar with the conditions we are sure that its sympathies would be with the settlers who are doing their best under difficulties, the more difficult because they have but poor means of ingress and egress.