THE LOAN POLLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15567, 26 March 1914, Page 6

THE LOAN POLLS

The decision on the questions to be voted upon at the city loan polls today rests with over 8000 ratepayers. A small minority of them may carry or reject any proposal if the majority arc apathetic and fail to record their votes. There is, therefore, a call upon every elector to take nothing for granted, to weigh the arguments for and against any controversial proposal, and to vote in accordance with his individual judgment. Only one of the schemes submitted—the purchase of the ''Gillies Park—has been the subject of controversy. The readers of the Herald are familiar with the objections urged against this proposal. These need not be repeated, but it should be pointed out that the proposal is going to the poll without any effort being made to assure the ratepayers that the sum asked for is all that the' park would cost.' The Mayor h as failed to come to an agreement with the owners, and he proposes, if the ratepayers give him authority, to take the property under the Public Works Act. The price is, therefore, an unknown quantity. Under the law the expenditure can exceed the ratepayers' authorisation by 10 per cent, without taking another poll, and it has not been made clear that the council will not draw upon the already overtaxed fund allocated for park maintenance to convert the estate into a public park. However much disposed the citizens of Auckland may be to provide parks, they are not likely to give the Mayor a blank cheque for the purchase of the Gillies property. This is what the proposal means, and the ratepayers would be acting in the best interests of the city if they refused the authorisation.