What Our Readers Are Thinking

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 98, 15 February 1950, 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 WATER SUPPLY Sir, —There was at one time talk of improving the water supply of this town. I do not know just far this scheme has progresed, but if it is not too late, I should like to suggest that when it is undertaken, the old supply be retained as liquid manure for our gardens. Yours etc., WAIMA. Whakatane, February 13. MONDAY. 13 Sir, — Oh, Monday Black! Oh, washing day! How much the housewives had to say. No water! Then they came a thud: “WOT! Try and wash these clothes in mud!” ( “Blue” water, once like summer sky, \ Looked though a storm was passing • by, And garments lifted from the boil Bore close resemblance to soil. The Council, now, no one should blame. They’ve had to fight both flood and flame. We should be proud—both me and you— If Pakeha clothes bear Maori hue. Yours etc., \ HOROI. Whakatane, February 13. ' All visitors to this town orta Souvenir some Borough water. Ed.

AS OTHERS SEE US Sir, —This is the first visit I have paid to your attractive little town and I was very charmed with everything I saw until I went to catch a bus to Ohope Beach. Being early after being told that there was a nice waiting shelter at a place called the Rock. I thought to pass away my time writing up some of my delayed correspondence. I really dismayed at what I saw. The table was covered with fish bones, the seats so dirty and greasy that I had to put down a newspaper to sit on ,and the floor was in a very littered up condition with cigarette butts, empty ice cream cartons, greasy paper and matches. I thought what a shame for the travelling public to have to put up with this condition of things. It could have been such a very delightful shelter to sit in to rest and wait for the buses, but one does like reasonable cleanliness. Who is responsible for' this unsanitary condition? The ladies’ room was a little cleaner, but could do with some disinfectant. Yours etc., ROTORUA VISITOR. Whakatane, February 10.

COUNTY ROADS Sir, —After travelling round the North Island in other counties one must come to the conclusion that for a prosperous county we have the worst roads in the Island. They are certainly nothing to be proud of. If we taxpayers sit back and say nothing our councillors and county staff will think that we are quite satisfied so here is my view of it: The Whakatane County Council must nearly be the last county in the race so far as tar sealed roads are concerned. In fact are there any sealed roads in the county except for short stretches done by the Main Highways Board on main roads? To my mind there should be a definite plan for sealing county roads say at the rate of five miles per year or any other figure that can be carried out. If this or a similar plan had been adopted 10 years ago our county roads would be much better today and costing less to maintain. The cost of maintaining graders and planers is tremendous and these do not contribute to a permanent surface.

The cry against this would be about rates going up but that would only be temporary as in time, as more roads were sealed, the cost of maintenance would come down. In any case some of us as ratepayers would like to see something for our money even if it cost a little more and I say it is not too late to start a definite sealing policy 'for this county even though it might be a bit belated.

Lastly the Main Highways in the county are in very bad condition, the Edgecumbe-Te Teko road in particular being an absolute disgrace and unless something is done soon this road will be impassable this winter. Recently on this road

the 'writer was stopped and asked by a visiting motorist if he W 33 on the main road to Rotorua and on being assured that he was said the road was so bad he thought he had gone astray. If this letter causes a little bit of dust I would say we are used to it in this county but I hope i: wUI be settled by a bit of tar sealing. Certainly a more vigorous policy is required to bring this county into line with the more progressive ones in other parts of the country. ' Yours etc., RATEPAYER. Edgecumbe, February 13.