FINANCES OF THAMES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19384, 20 July 1926, Page 14

FINANCES OF THAMES.

BOROUGH COUNCIL'S POLICY, ATTITUDE OF THE RESIDENTS. DRAINAGE SCHEME ENDORSED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN COBEESPONDENT.] THAMES, Monday. A tendency of recent public meetings on borough affairs to develop a humorous twist, together with renewed interest in the financial affairs of the bprough, caused the Central Hall, one of the largest in Thames, to be packed to the doors on Saturday evening in response to an invitation to discuss certain aspects of a £98,000 sanitary drainage loan, and a £70,000 streets improvement loan scheme authorised over five years ago. At the last Borough Council meeting it had been decided, on the motion of the mayor, Mr. T. W. Rhodes, M.P., that voting papers should be distributed at a public meeting to test the feeling of the peopfe on the question whether the schemes should be continued in their entirety in view of a 50 per cent, rating increase. A day later the Mayor assured a deputation that ho would act at the wish of the meeting. While the Mayor was in Wellington the Borough Council, under the Deputy Mayor, Mr. W. Bongard, decided that a vote of this nature, being purely informal, was not binding on the council and was therefore unnecessary. Accordingly the portion of the Mayor's resolution referring to the taking of a vote was deleted by a fresh resolution. . The Mayor at Saturday evening's meeting expressed disapproval of the action of the council in altering his resolution. Ho was now in an awkward position. He had given his promise to go one way and since then the council had altered his resolution for which he was sorry. He said he would not accept a resolution regarding the policy of the council nor would he accept any criticism of that policy. Referring to the borough finances, Mr, Rhodes stated that if the schemes were completed the rate next year would bo nearly 2s in the £l. TWe was still to be raised for Streets. Drainage would cost over £IOO,OOO if continued in the terms of the original loan. He would regard the suggestion of a committee of business men to discuss the council's financial position as tantamount to a vote of no confidence in the council. After the Mayor had quoted figures there was a mild bombardmeufc of questions, gome of which drew pointed answers. Finally the Mayor agreed to accept a resolution regarding the raising of a further £19,000 for streets imprqvemeuts. The affirmative drew only a very faint "yes," while there was ft deep-throated chorus of "noes" for the negative. Mr. Rhodes was not satisfied with, this and eventually asked all in favour of the original scheme to stand. Two people stood up. Almost the whole audience rose against the motion. Another resolution to the effect that the sewerage scheme should bo continued was carried.