Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6. 1916.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3573, 6 October 1916, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6. 1916.

HOBBLED HAMPSTEAD.

: A public man who has the! courage ©f Ms conyictious can always*-rely upon gaining the respect of his friends and opponents, even though his views are against the. best interests of thepeople he represents. His critics know " where he stands " on public questions, and the ratepayers can always bring him to account if they do not approve of his actions* For these reasons, the chairman of the Hampstead Town j Board (Mr W. H. Robinson) is entitled to claim credit for consistency in opposing the amalga-J mation of the town district with the Borough of Ashburton. It must, we. admit, have required a certain amount of moral courage for the chairman to assume the responsibility of hobbling the town's affairs by giving his cast-ing-vote against the proposed Greater Ashburton scheme. Not only has his vote put an end to present prospects of the town adopting up-to-date conveniences that are deemed absolutely essential in all progressive districts, but it is practically an indication to the go-ahead members of the board that they can look for little support or encouragement from hint "in any proposals for the improvement of the town. -This deduction is warranted by the unquestionable fact that the progress of the town is entirejy dependent upon its amalgamation with the borough, and though the process of fusion may be delayed for a year or two, its accomplishment is inevitable. It is certain, however, that not much headway can be made while such views are held as were expressed by one of the members of the board—namely, that he "favoured some improvements being carried out provided they could be done without much additional expense." Progress cannot be made along these lines. Just now, most of the progressive boroughs and town districts in the Dominion are going in for loans for municipal improvements, and especially is there a boom in the amalgamation of various municipal, districts 1! Though Hampstead does* not approve of closer connection with tlie- Borough, it slavishly follows the Borough's bad lead in refusing 'to adopt the system of rating on unimproved values. This system is in vogue in 52 boroiughs and cities in the Dominion, and only 11 (of which Ashburton is one) still cling to the old method of collecting rates. With regard to the channelling of the town, it was stated at the board's meeting that it would probably take eight years to complete all that was needed, and the chairman suggested that %he cost should be subsidised by the ratepayers, along whose frontages ;.the channels . would pass. If this idea is canned oUt,-.-| it will probably be found that j many ratepayers will have a gveat deal more to pay for this improvement than if the: work were done" in one job out of loan money and under the .supervision-- ot this Borough. It is an accepted j truism of municipal, economics, that permanent works should not be done out of revenue. Some ; local bodies; (notably the Borough of Ashburton) do not\strictly adhere to this wise policy, but' we would suggest to the Hamptead Town Board the advisability of consulting-some authority ori the subject. Though the Progressives on. the'board'have sustained a check in tlie first stage of their campaign, we feel sure they will not relax'their efforts to push the town ahead. Many of the ratepayers are anxious to get out of the present unsatisfactory groove, and. their influence should be invoiced when, the question of amalgamation is next brought forward.