To-day’s Poll

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 39, 16 February 1938, Page 4

To-day’s Poll

A ratepayers 9 poll is being taken to-day by the City Council upon a proposal to raise £IO,OOO for sewerage works, a most necessary type of undertaking. The Mayor gave a sound address to ratepayers last Saturday evening, explaining the proposal and the financial obligation involved; as is usual with such meeting, the ratepayers attendance can be, only by courtesy, described as modest.

Those who did put in an attendance are deserving of commendation for their display of citizenship. But for the zealous citizen who so takes a watching brief upon public affairs, our whole system of local self-government would deteriorate. A ratepayers’ meeting to consider a £IOO,OOO loan proposal would doubtless attract a much larger attendance. But there are many smaller proposals that in aggregate become all as important as the large ones. Doubtless hundreds of ratepayers have become acquainted with the present proposal since the meeting by reading the Press reports.

Turning now to the present proposal and its merits. An area exceeding one-half the city-s total is dependent upon a number of sewers that are in a bad condition. The pipes in these are breaking up and urgently require renewal. A sum of £9740 is required for this work and a loan for is requested. The loan would be raised at 34 per cent, for a 20-year term, and the effect on rates would be almost negligible, being but 8d per £IOO of land valuation.

A study of the complete statement shows the work to be necessary and the cost but modest. The granting of authority lies in the hands of ratepayers, and their attendance at the poll this day is requested; whether to vote for or against the proposal, at least to exefeise their rights and, too, do their duty as citizens