THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1921. THE PLAINS REVERSE.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXII, Issue 4318, 16 September 1921, Page 2

THE Hauraki Plains Gazette With which is incorporated THE OHINEMURI GAZETTE. Motto: Public Service. MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, & FRIDAY. FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1921. THE PLAINS REVERSE.

The reverse suffered by the Hauraki Plains County by the defeat of the recent loan proposal is, as was forecasted in this journal, producing serious effects. Having no other option, ' the Council has decided to dismiss all but a few employees, which means that road work is at a standstill right on the verge of summer weather. The formation of new roads and the re-grading and metalling of those already formed is put back indefinitely; the hand of progress is paralysed. Furthermore, as the Council has drawn on the general fund for things that it was intended the loan moneys should ultimately pay for, it follows as a logical sequence that, failing the carrying of another proposal to be put forward, the general rates must be raised- substantially. In regard to the factors which militated against the carrying of the poll, it was obvious that the Patetonga, Kaihere, and Tahuna ratepayers are still dissatisfied, and doubtfess will remain so until funds are provided for the tackling of the roading problem in a comprehensive manner. Then the fact d£. a large number of names being off the roll owing to the individuals not having paid their rates was most unfortunate ; but the clerk informed his Council that he could not legally put these names on the roll—and it is very risky to do anything that is not legal in respect to a loan proposal. Another unfortunate factor was that many residents of Turua, having in view a town board district, were loath to saddle themselves with a share of a county loan obligation. This consideration is understandable, but the vision of those who voted against the loan on that ground would # appear to be rather myopic : as Turua is aiming at becoming one of the most important centres on the Plains eventually, the residents should realise that good roads. outside the proposed town district boundary will draw traffic and trade into Turua. It was good roads that enabled Rome to expand from a small State to the greatest Empire the world had ever seen up to that time, and it is good roads, more than any other single artificial factor, which now enables a village to grow into a town, and a town to a city. It is really appalling to think of another summer going by without seeing a great deal of metal laid on the roads of the Plains; what the roads may be next winter is something truly awful to contemplate. There is yet time to save the situation, but stagnation lies ahead unless every man who wants to see progress made uses his personal efforts and influence at every opportunity to forward the carrying of the next loan proposal, shortly to be re-sub-mitted.