NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY With which is incorporated the NORTHERN MAIL DAILY. SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1919. COUNTY LOANS.

Northern Advocate, 9 August 1919, Page 2

NORTHERN ADVOCATE DAILY With which is incorporated the NORTHERN MAIL DAILY.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 9, 1919. COUNTY LOANS.

Kegislered for transmission through the post as a newspaper.

General satisfaction will be felt at the knowledge that the Whangarei County Council loan proposals are advancing slowly, but surely towardg a stage when active operations may be At the meeting held yesterday the clerlf submitted a statement showing what had been done in each and if the whole plan is not yet complete it is at least shown that the projects are definitely under way. Meetings have been held in a number of centres, and the ratepayers have discussed the position to ascertain what works may be regarded as essential in each district, and the amount of loan money which it suits the wish of the majority to borrow. The following of this course gives the assurance that when the schemes are finally launched there will be no serious opposition, and in every case wher e polls are necessary the requisite majority should be forthcoming. But the main cause of the delay is that estimates have to be prepared showing prospective costs, and it is not possible for the engineer to b e in several different ridings at the same time. He has found it necessary to take each in turn, and this has naturally enabled som c districts to get in ahead of others. The estimates of Mangakakia district, for instance, are ready, and beyond fixing exactly upon the sum to be borrowed, the county is in a position to go ahead with the work. It is proved, however, by the representatives of other ridings that those who "get in early" will be in a position to secure all the Government subsidy or such a big share of it that there will be little left to go round amongst the late comers. This may, or may not, be true, but in fairness it must be pointed out that .the Maunu, or Mangakahia settlers were first in the field. They came to the County Council months ago with fixed and definite proposals to borrow money for roading purposes. They were prepared to go ahead with the work immediately from a district standpoint, but were urged to await the launching of the county proposals. Mangakahia consented to this course upon the assurance that the council would wake up and do something, and this understanding should give the loan proposals in that area preference. Be that as it may, we can see no danger of subsidy money being withheld. Sir William Fraser, In dealing with the Bay of Islands and Mangonui Counties, willingly granted subsidies upon all demands which could be expended within the financial year, but he refused to pledge future revenues. Rightly sp. It would not be fair to pledge a subsidy upon a big loan over a succession of years when the task of finding that money would devolve upon another minister. In the reverse way it would not be wise to make promises to the ratepayers which another minister might not be disposed to carry