Borough Finance.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXIV, Issue 3817, 9 April 1898, Page 2

Borough Finance.

At the Borough Council meeting on Wednesday evening, the loan question was under discussion, a report of which was crowded out of Thursday's issue. The matter was introduced by a question by Cr. Fairhall, as to why the necrssary steps had not been taken to obtain the vote of the ratepayers on the £"4000 loan as agreed to at the last meeting. He understood steps were to be taken at once, as also did Crs. Davidson, Bartlett, Whittington and Adamson. The Mayor said there was no immediate hurry, for if the poll were carried, nothing could be done with the money until after the winter. Cr Davidson said that was not the point. The council's resolution should have been given effect to, but instead of that it had been ignored. He moved that the necessary steps be taken at once. The Mayor sud he would take the whole blame. It was he, and he alone, who had asked the clerk not to take any steps until this meeting. Cr. Paterson said he had been informed that at any rate two councillors had voted for the £'4000 loan under the misapprehension that the water and drainage loan could not be taken in conjunction with the loan in question. Knowing this he had informed the Mayor of it. Cr. Fairhall believed he was one of the councillors referred to. He was certainly under a misapprehension owing to Cr. Davidson's reply to a question in regard to the two polls. That, however, was no justification for the Mayor's action. Cr. Bartlett also spoke to the same effect. Cr. Haughey— lf Cr. Bartlett considers the Mayor in the wrong he should move a vote of censure. Cr. Bartlett — I would not be particular about that. The Mayor said he undertook the course because he thought it the correct one. Knowing time was not an essential in the matter he did not consider it necessary to specially call the council together. After a somewhat desultory discussion, Cr Paterson said he thought the question of raising the JE4OOO loan should be deferred until such time as a vote could be taken on the water and drainage proposal, and he would move to that effect. He had no doubt that at last meeting several councillors voted for the loan under a misapprehension, and their votes carried the resolution. He also pointed out that if they raised the loan they would not be able to proceed with work for some time, whilst they could by their revenue do a lot of more urgent work, and if necessary get £1000 overdraft. It was far better finance in every way to embrace the whole in one loan — it would save trouble and expense— and further, there was far more prospect of water and drainage being carried. If they persisted in the smaller loan being taken at once he said it was the biggest nail they could drive into the coffin of water and drainage. Cr Bartlett seconded, but at the same time he hoped that the polling would not be delayed any longer than possible, lie did not agree with the suggestion that street improvements could be carried on out of ordinary revenue, for that would mean an overdraft, and when once they began that a great deal more would be taken away in interest than if they borrowed. Cr Fairhall said that knowing the steps ordered had not been taken and the poll could be taken on the two loans conjointly, he would support the motion. Cr Davidson still thought that the two loans should be separate and considered if they waited until water and drainage was carried they would have to wait a long time for street improvements. The quicker the street loan was carried the better. Crs Whittington and Haughey opposed the motion. Cr Paterson in his reply said the opponents of water and drainage were looking gleefully forward to the £4000 loan being carried for they considered it would kill water and drainage. After the Mayor had said he agreed with Cr Bartlett's idea, but entirely disagreed with Cr Paterson's suggestion as to overdraft, The motion was put and carried, the voting being : — Ayes : Bartlett, Fairhall, Fake, Paterson, Mayor. Noes: Adamson, Haughey, Davidson, Whittington. ____________