The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4,1909. YESTERDAY’S POLL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2417, 4 February 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4,1909. YESTERDAY’S POLL.

. The result of the voting on the loan proposals placed before the ratepayer yesterday constituted an emphatic expression- of dissatisfaction on the part of the people with the various schemes as were put forward. As we pointed out from the commencement, the objects aimed at are entirely laudable, but the proposals were introduced in such a crude manner as to invite defeat. His Worship the Mayor had succeeded by his characteristic methods in getting his desires—so far as roads were concerned—beyond the Council, and ho endeavored by all means in his power to foist them upon the people. That ho failed signally, despite the herculean efforts of himself and his more enthusiastic supporters, should come as a salutary lesson and inspire the head el’ the Council to greater caution and more tact when bringing forward important schemes in the future. The Council, too, must take its share of the blame, and under no circumstances should it be possible in the future for loan proposals to be placed before the people in a way that will provoke the kind of hostile criticism which has been directed towards those which have just been disposed of. Although the ratepayers have given their decision in an unmistakable fashion against tho loans put forward, we are confident that a moderate loan for either roads or drainage would be sanctioned provided the voters were satisfied with tho details of the proposed expenditure and with tho personnel of those in control. The fact of the matter is the present Mayor and Council have not the confidence of the and until a change is made in .this direction it is doubtful if any important project will be endorsed by the ratepayers. During the Mayoral year that is just closing there hate always been strained relations between the Alayor and the majority of the Councillors, and under these circumstances it is not surprising that no headway lias Been made in municipal matters. In this respect an opportunity will occur in April next to restore something approaching harmony in tho conduct of municipal business, .and then wo may expect to have proposals introduced that will represent the combined intelligence of the City Fathers and with some element of practicability in them. In the meantime we may congratulate the ratepayers upon having taken a tho roughly, sane view of some very difficult problems.