YESTERDAY'S POLL

Southland Times, Issue 17547, 10 January 1914, Page 6

YESTERDAY'S POLL

GASWORKS PROPOSAL REJECTED. LIMITED INTEREST. A poll of great importance to the people of Invercargill was taken yesterday, but the event excited only very limited interest. On a proposal in which 662 ratepayers had the right to vote, only fiftytwo did so, aild out of the 4 508 ratepayers interested in two other proposals only three hundred and thirty-one recorded their votes. In toto the amount proposed to be borrowed was £65,000. and the major loan was one of £37,:’>00. which made provision for a municipal swimming baths, public conveniences for men, a tram sprayer for street watering, the completion of the harbour reclamation, electric light and power systems within the inner area of the city, and the extension ond improvement of the fire alarm system. The second proposal was to borrow £23,100 for the extension of the gas department, and among the improvements provided for was a new gasholder. This proposal was, negatived. The third proposal was for a loan of £SIOO for sewerage works. There are only 662 ratepayers whose properties are within the blocks which are bounded on the north by Gala street, on the east by Deveron street, on the south by Forth street, and on the west by the estuary. As showing the very limited interest taken in these important proposals, it may be stated that at 11 a.m. no vote hud been recorded. About 2 p.m. thirtyseven ratepayers had voted at the central booth, and small numbers at the other booths made a total of sixty. The voting on the three proposals was as follows ; —Loan of £37,300. — For; 172; against: 137; informal: 2. —Loan of £23,100. — For ; 150; against : 179; informal ; 2. —Loan of £SIOO. — For : 37; against: 17: informal : nil. The poll was declared at 7.30 p.m. to a small number of people. The Mayor. Air D. McFarlane, said that lie was not disappointed at the result of the poll. He deplored the lack of interest in the matter. He had been against tlie gasworks proposal all along, because it meant the division of the business of the gas and electric light departments, which he considered most unwise. A hearty vote of thanks to the returning officer, Mr T. W. Walker, was moved by (lie -Mayor and carried by acclamation.