The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1919. THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17478, 24 January 1919, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1919. THE LOAN PROPOSALS.

It is cheering to note the glimmer of interest which is being taken in the Borough Council's proposal to raise a loan of £12,500 to purchase ''he Alexander property. Too often ratepayers take .such little interest in municipal affairs <tihat loan proposals or candidates are either adopted or rejecfted by a mere handful of voters. That is a bad thing. Sometimes really good propositions have been discarded because ratepayers have .no; taken the trouble to investigate them and learn their worth. On '^i© other hand, owing io tihe same-want of investigation, propositions have ot't e n been adopted which experience has proved had nothing to recommend them. ]lt, is mistakes in the La'titer category that ai-e the worse. It is of^en aggravating .to kno\y that a good bargain has been lost, bui& it is infinitely worse to realise that; a badl bargain has been obtaine3. To err, we know, is human, but error is usually Lorn of indifference and carelessness. So long as a man uses to the utmost it he sense with which he is endowed, and is swayed neither by jealousy nor prejudice, can bear with philosophic spirit the result of his decision. It is the tendency to let decision rest with somebody else that causes most of our troubles. Especially is this so with the public gener. ally, for, as we have already said, public questions are often decided by a minority. ' The ratepayers of Wanganui ati the present moment have the opportunity to prove .their public inter. estedness. To-night a meeting is "i.o l>e held +io express an opinion on the Be-rough Council's proposal to purchase .the Alexander property and also to establish a destructor. That meeting should be largely attended and ijhe sub. ject should be thoroughly thrashed out. We doubt whether there is anyone— supporter or opponent' of the proposals —but will gladly acquiesce in the decision of the ratepayers as a whole. If

Mie raltepayers generally show thait* they consider the. purchase of the Alexander property is a good thing for the Borough, and that the esltablisilimen^ of a desitructor is .a necessity, tihe commnnity as a-whole should be qutfe satisfied. But. for goodness : sake, let> "■< majority decide the question—not a handful'of people.