COUNTY LOANS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2246, 18 July 1908, Page 3

COUNTY LOANS.

CR. W. D. LYSNAR’S PROPOSALS. AN UNEXPECTED INTERRUPTION. CAPTAIN TUCKER LEAVES THE CHAIR, After the ordinary business of tlie Cook County Council had been disposed of at tlie meeting yesterday, Cr. W. D. Lysnar pursuant to notice of, motion, brought forward his proposal to borrow £200,000 for the purpose of forming the county roads. His motion was: “That necessary steps bo taken to place before the ratepayers a proposal to borrow £200,000 in terms of the Committee’s report, dated 21st October, 1907, and after £4OOO had been set asido for the purchase of machinery and roadmaking plant; and that the resolution of the 19th of June to place before .the ratepayers a proposal to borrow £IOO,OOO after the next valuations are available, be revoked and cancelled.” The Chairman said tlie previous resolution on the loan question should be rescinded before the motion could be taken. In speaking to the motion, Cr. Lysnar said. lie wished his resolution carried as it stood. The Chairman: It is incompetent to put this motion until Cr. White’s resolution has been rescinded. The proceedings would he out of order. Proceeding, Cr. Lysnar said that although a resolution had been carried tying up the question until April next, he had come to tho conclusion that a loan of £IOO,OOO would lie insufficient for the work required. There was a. pressing need for substantial repairs to tho roads in the To Arai district. A .lo in would mean tho reduction of the rates to Id in the £, and a saving on all road works. Tho only trouble w T as tlie basis of the apportionment- of the money. The Prime Minister had promised to guarantee loans of this class. He had communicated with the Prime Minister on the subject by telegram (which he read), and Sir Joseph Ward had promised, to do his best to get Parliament to guarantee,, county loans. If •the £200,000 were borrowed, tho rates would be reduced by one-half, or in the Cook County from Id to Jd. The total revenue of the Council was about £22,000, and the cost of administration was about £2600, including the charitable aid rate. If it, would help the Council he would like to again communicate with the Prime Minister and get further details on the Government scheme for guaranteeing county loans. The whole question was which was cheapest, to spend £45 a year for a loan of every £IOOO. or to have bad roads? Cr. Matthews had signed a statement that if the loan was raised the rates would bo reduced. Cr. Matthews: Excuso me, I said I would oppose tho question on every possible occasion. . The Chairman: I also signed, witli certain reservations. Or. Lysnar, continuing: If the motion is not carried to-day, two years will go by before anything can be done, but if wo decide to-day tho poll can be taken right away. For the Waimata Road £4087 would be available, and about £3700 for the Coast Road if the £200,000 was borrowed. Cr. Matthews asked if the figures wero official. The Chairman said lie knew nothing about them. Cr. Lysnar said the amounts were based on figures supplied by the Clerk. He was sure £4OOO spent on the "NVaimata Road would do a lot of good. The loan should go to the* ratepayers on the present apportionment.

Cr. Boland thought that it would be a wise policy to raise a loan, so that the roads "could be put in good order. He thought the proposals would be carried dn tlie Tologa Bay riding, and he seconded tho motion. Cr. "White said the Council was unanimous as to tho advisability of a loan, but tho way in which the money slioiild bo apportioned gavo rise to a differenco of opinion. Tho valuation is use at present was two apd a half years old; He would su§-

gost that only £50,000 should bo raised on tlio old valuation and £150,000 when tho now valuations camo into ioroo. Many districts had increased in valuation sineo tlio lust estimate, and bo felt bo could not support a loun on tlio old apiiortionmont. lie moved that one-fourth bo raised on the old valuation.

Cr. Lysnar: Fix tho Bum. - Would you agroo to £IP Cr. White: .What lor? Cattle. I will rnako it £50,000 on tlio present valuation and £150,000 on tho new valuation, provided there is an apportionment wlion tho now valuations are known.

Cr. W. 1). Lysnar: I would agree to that. Cr. Matthews asked if lie could move another amendment. Ho would like to ask, did tlio Council propose to borrow money to repair roads without any cstimato from the engineer as to the cost of tlio work? Tho amount proposed would only repair 200 miles of road. Tho £50,000 divided over the whole county would only give a patch hero and a patch there, for roads cannot bo metalled under a cost of £lopo por mile. A small sum of £50,000 por year would lie useless, and in eight years, instead of tlio penny rate, there would bo a twopenny rato for increased maintenance. No road in Poverty Bay would last longer than eight years without expensive maintenance. Ho would rather see a system of tramways laid down so as to relievo tlio roads of heavy traffic. A branch line of tramway could bo run to To Aral, and cheap metal carried there for road-making purposes. If tho loan proposals were put in a fair and propci- way ho would support them. The .Council could not rely up ■ any promise from the Prime. Mini .ter to guarantee j county, loans.,■, until tlio measure bud passed through Parliament. .i i . i , .

Or. Lysnar then withdrew his motion in favor of Civ White’s suggestion.

At this stage a cross-table discussion took place between Cr. Lysnar ami Cr. Matthews, and as the Chairman asked that tlio rules of debate should be observed, and ho was not obeyed, bo left tlio chair. - A number of Councillors followed. Cr. Lysnar said that upon that action he was willing to write out his resignation and go to the rate oarers. ,Cr. Sherratt then returned "to the room, but said lie would not be idling to follow Cr. L.vsnar’s suggestion. Councillors talked tho matter over among themselves, and decided to call a special meeting for Monday, July 27th.