RIDER TO VOTING PAPER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 23 February 1928, Page 8

RIDER TO VOTING PAPER.

LOAN BOARD’S' SUGGESTION. MAYOR! OP HAMILTON’S SEVERE ORICIOISM. [BY TELIiGK APH PRESS ASSOCIATION.] HAMILTON, Feb. 22. “Without any local knowledge, the Local Bodies’ Loan Board (sends down a recommendation that is reflection on councillors and an insult to ratepayers.” In those strong; terms the Mayor (Mr J. R. Few) condemned the board’s action which he severely criticised at a meeting of the Hamilton Borough Council last night and which was later referred to by a deputation which, waited upon the Hon. A. D. McLeod (Minister of Lands). The communication which had provoked that outburst from the Mayor was forwarded from the Local Bodies’ Loans Board, in advising council that when it placed the £35,01)0 footway loan proposal before the ratepayers, a rider should be attached to the voting paper pointing out the increasing indebtedness of the borough. ... iTU-ocoecling to- m.ike a southing iiicbefciDon of the hoard, the Mayor stated : “When this came to hand the suggestion made .appeared so ridiculous that the Mayor and the town clerk waited on them concerning the matter, suggesting that they should reconsider the proposal and either reject it or amend the terms. We found the chairman lnizy about the whole matter and be did‘'not even know the duration of the loan. I contend that the ratepayers arc intelligent enough to know whether they want these improvements oj' not; whether they can afford them or not and no- one can judge better than they, whether they are prepared to approve and pay for them. Other councillors supported the Mayor, who stated that the primary object of the loan was to relieve unemployment. “Well, I don’t know what would have prompted the Local Bodies Loan Board to impose such a condition upon you.” commented the Hon. A. D. McLeod whan the case was presented to him by tbe Borough Council deputation, which waited on him late in the evening. “I cannot see as you have stated the case, any necessity for imposing the. restriction, but 1 am not going to criticise the Loans Board until X have their view- 1 point.” The Minister added, however, that the council -was entitled to know the reason why the restriction had been imposed on it or if other local bodies had been treated similarly.