King Country Chronicle. Thursday, February 4, 1937. CIVIC CO-OPERATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXI, Issue 4951, 4 February 1937, Page 4

King Country Chronicle. Thursday, February 4, 1937. CIVIC CO-OPERATION.

At the meeting held on Tuesday night to oppose the loan proposals of the Borough Council, one of the speakers, Mr. Lorigan, referred to the exorbitant values placed on the town when the freeholding movement took place in 1922. At the subsequent meeting Mr. Mackersey again referred to the same subject, pointing out that the local Chamber of Commerce had called a meeting of those interested, and there had been a very poor response to the appeal for concerted effort to try and obtain some relief in this direction. This is a phase of public welfare that is to be much regretted in a town like Te Kuiti. There is not that spirit of co-operation which is so necessary, for the progress and development of a town which has such vast resources in the surrounding districts. There are some who fully realise the enormous handicaps under which the town is labouring on account of excessive valuations, but they iare quite content to allow others to do the work and reap any benefits that may.accrue. While such a spirit prevails progress will be slow. More than that, it may result in neighbouring towns outstripping Te Kuiti. It is only when a direct burden is placed on the ratepayers that many evince any interest in local affairs — burdens that they cannot relegate to others. The chairman at the first

meeting on Tuesday complained that the Borough Council had not taken the ratepayers into their confidence before going to the Local Bodies Loans Board. The Council has had the waterworks proposals in view for the last twelve months and the utmost publicity has been given to them. As one speaker also stated, the meetings of the Council are open to the public, yet it was asserted that the ratepayers were not consulted before putting the ratepayers to the expense of a poll. So much for public interest, in the affairs of the town. All that pubac bodies ask for is the co-operation of the ratepayers. Serving the public interests by working on local bodies is a thankless job at any time and their task is not made easier with such happenings as took place on Tuesday night. The Council had in view what it considered to be in the best interests of the town. It was for the ratepayers to endorse or reject the proposals, but there was on justification for some of the remarks passed at the meeting. It is to be hoped that the meetings held in connection with the loan proposals will result in a better spirit of co-operation between ratepayers and the Town Council, and a renewed interest in the progress and development of the town. Such a spirit would be welcomed by all public bodies, and make the rendering of civic servipe much more pleasurable for the members.