ASHLEY RIVER TRUST.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19174, 3 December 1927, Page 17

ASHLEY RIVER TRUST.

TO TUS EDITOR OF THE PREi'J. Sir—May I again trespass on your space? I have just been along to look at the Ashley, which is almost bank to bank, and still rising. Two years of Ashley Kiver Trust, and nothing done in thb way of protective works. fto wonder the ratepayers are getting impatient There have been either two or three meetings since I wrote before on this subject. The time of the last meeting was taken up in - the usual social amenities. One item pleased me; a member assured the meeting that "the 'settlers' on the south side had at last wakened up." I, with other ratepayers, hope it is true, and that they will be wide awake when tho next election is held—in fact, so wide awake that they will not vote for any of the present members who upheld the scheme, whbh is to cost us £44,000. The alternative scheme costing about £20,000 is considered by many ratepayers much better. If, according to River Trust figures, the £44,000 ot the present rate of interest means £76,000," would it not be cheaper for the Trust to buy all'the land hkelv to be affected by the Ashley floods, and put away the idea of protective works, and let the river go where it will ? One thing we would like to know, now we are so wide awake, is when is the Trust likely to have a balance-sheet? Surely we have a right to know where and how our money is being spent. So far as I have followed "accounts passed for payment" they havo got rid of quite £IOOO. Now, the next election will soon be here. Let us vote for the men who turned down Mr Hay's scheme. We cannot stand up to £76.000. Let us do our best for the man who suggested the £20.000 scheme, and who, I believe, is capable of successfully carrying it through.—Yours, etc.. RATEPAYER.