THE VOTE BY THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1022, 11 December 1883, Page 2

THE VOTE BY THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.

To the Editor. Sir, —The election of our worthy Councillor.! is over. We have heard a great deal about the squandering of the raiepiyers’ money—a'l about Alford road, Hospital road, North Balt, etc., disputes, corrections in figures. We have had this ad nauseam; and, Sir, nearly the same ground was gone over again by the Mayor when on the hustings. Money could not be spent, money would not be put out of the people's pocket, and yet last evening onr city fathers vote by the casting vote of the Mayor L 5 towards the treat for the State School children. What right have they to do this 1 The State School with its large attendance, with its Committee, with its large staff, cannot raise the wind to the extent of L 8 or LIO. The children go to the school free, they get a free train for the treat—yet with all this their parents won’t give one boh, not even a threepenny bit, to help to feed them on that day. And if they did there would be no outrageous squandering of the people’s money in that direction. I’d like to ask, Sir, the supporter* of this motion if by any possibility the Catholic School authorities were to request half, or even LI, for a similar purpose, would. Sir, Messrs Urr, St, Hill and Sealy vote for it, and would the Mayer give his casting vote for the motion. ■' I trow not, though on the principle that the ratepayers’ money is being spent for the benefit of their children, as Cr Orr, the seconder of the motion, is reported to have said, I fail t o see why the children of the Catholic ratepayers are not entitled to a similar grant. On the same principle, I would suggest that the Council vole a sum sufficient to supply each of the girls with a new dress, and a new pair of pants for each of the boys, this would likewise be for the benefit of the ratepayers’ children, and also revive trade a little these dull times. Happy boys and girls ! Happy ratepayers ! 1 eongratulata you. Eriokna. Ashburton, lith Dec., 1883.