What Our Readers Are Thinking

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 32, 31 August 1949, Page 4

What Our Readers Are Thinking

Though their views on all subjects are freely published here because we believe it our duty to uphold the public’s right to freedom of opinion, our correspondents’ opinions are not necessarily shared by this newspaper. BOROUGH RATES Sir, —In view of the fact that a vote is shortly to be taken concerning the borrowing of the sum of £25,000 for improvements to the Borough water supply, may I ask the following questions: 1. Is it a fact that at present Whakatane ranks among the highest rated Boroughs in which there is no sewage system? 2. Is it a fact that rates will be struck in future on a much higher unimproved value, in the majority of cases approximately 100 per cent increase on former rates? 3. Is the present revaluation, which is now taking place, fixing unimproved values at land Sales values? 4. If as mentioned above that the unimproved' values show a steep rise, do the’Borough Council intend to strike the same rate as last year or strike a lower rate? Yours etc., D. I. OPIE. When this letter was referred to the Mayor, Mr B. S. Barry, for his comments, he gave the following replies to the correspondent’s questions: (1) No. (2) Until the valuation is completed, the Council does not know what the total or individiial values will be. (3) Yes. (4) At the commencement of each financial year the Council budgets for its requirements during that year, which govern the amount of rate to be struck. Any further information Mr Opie wanted could have been obtained at last week’s public meeting, or by a call bn the town clerk or himself, Mr Barry added.

LIQUOR LICENSES

Sir, —Our Chamber of Commerce is to be congratulated on its action regarding allocation of State houses, but many will differ from their unanimous decision that the need of a wholesale liquor license is obvious. Most Will agree that existing facilities have coped with Whakatane’s needs. Has the local thirst grown so intense that it cannot longer be quenched, except in a wholesale way? The necessity for another licensed hotel was also agreed upon by our business leaders. Accommodation is necessary, but surely, should not residents at present living in baqhes, caravans and dumps, come before travellers and holiday makers? The Chamber of Commerce ently thinks otherwise. The materials and labour consumed in build-, ing a modern hotel would help considerably with housing, and most will agree that there are many who really do need living facilities before increased drinking facilities. A more realistic attitude by our businessmen would be appreciated by those concerned. The referendum early this year was on increased drinking facilities through the extension of drinking hours. This was turned down flat by a very solid majority, the people thus emphatically declaring that they were satisfied and did not want increased drinking facilities. This present iriove of the Chamber of Commerce for bar and bulk liquor licenses is but another road with increased drinking facilities at its end! Most will agree that in the light of the previous vote of “No”, the Chamber of Commerce obviously does not here represent the people, and should democratically put the matter again to a public vote. The people should say, for its they who’ll pay!

Yours etc., DEMOCRACY,

Lest there be misunderstanding, it seems only fair to point out that the Chamber of Commerce does not claim to represent the people in the same sense that an elected body does. Nor has it the power to implement a public vote on such a question. Its resolutions are expressions of opinion from a responsible section of the community, but while the Chamber might 'make suggestions to administrative bodies, it has no administrative power itself. Editor.

TAPESTRY Sir, —The tapestry mentioned in the Beacon of August 24 is reminiscent of the tapestries at Arunde}. Castle, the historic home of the Dukes of Norfolk. One of the most remarkable is Christ and the Fish-ermen-Apostles (a copy of Raphael’s famous picture the cartoon of which is in South Kensington museum, London). The figures are life-size and the colours of the wool

still fresh and beautifully blended, said to be the work of the Nuns of a French Convent which a Knight, of the family brought home to the Castle after the battle of Agmcourt. In the Baron’s or Banqueting Hall which is 150 ft x 50ft x 50ft high ioithe plateline of one of the finest oak roofs in the country, above a 10ft carved oak wainscoat, hang large tapestries representing scenes connected with the Castle’s history. The work of thfe ladies of the hdusehold in their bowers when the drawbridge was up and the po tcullus down and the clash of arms and terrifying thuds of the batteringrams announced the seige was on and the gentle art of woolwork must be abandoned for the grim task of attending to the wounded defenders of the Castle, which has been beseiged several times. The last was by Cromwell’s Trc'ops of Waller’s Army who mounted guns on the tower of the Parish Church and made the Castle uninhabitable for a number of years. My family has ‘ been intimately connected with the Castle during the lifetime of four Dukes. I was working on the restoration by the late Duke from 1890 to 1896. Providing the subject would not be “too. fusty" for your readers, that space would be able and that you, Mr Editor, arc/ agreeable, I should very much en* joy writing a review of the historic old pile which with the exception of Windsor is the finest inhabited castle in the British Isles. In the castle drawing room, there are the lifesize portraits of four Dukes (by Van Dyke) who were beheaded at the Tower of London, hence the old saying, “As hazardous as a Duke’s head.”

Yours etc., HARRY SERGANT.