COUNCILLOR BENNETT AND THE CIVIC LEAGUE

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 53, 26 November 1926, Page 11

COUNCILLOR BENNETT AND THE CIVIC LEAGUE

(To the Editor.) Sir, —I read your report on Councillor H. D. Bennett’s meeting at Wadestown, and one would gather from his address that lie is a man of outstanding ability whose services to the city are of such vital importance that it would be hard to say what will hapiwu to poor old Wellington if he were not on the council. As a matter of fact, at the recent municipal elections Mr. Bennett, together with most of his colleagues at present representing the citizens, will be politely but firmly told that, their services will no longer be required. Their municipal record is one of hopeless bungling, which cannot be allowed to continue another two years, as not only have they proved incompetent for big jobs of any magnitude, but they do not even know the first thing about laying down an ordinary footpath. At Khandallah on the main avenue to the railway station there is a stretch of sharp metal the size of a man’s fist, over which scores of people have to walk every day, and not even a bit of blinding the width of a cuttie track put .down for pedestrians. And this, mark you, has been the case lor months. If Councillor Bennett or any other councillor would like to see the road in question it is Cashmere Avenue, quite close to the Khandallah terminus.

Further up this road there is a newlyformed footpath made entirely of clay, which was deplorable on a wet .day. Now, to make matters worse, they have put a lot of loose metal on it, and I venture to hazard the opinion that no blinding will he put on it. What, citizens want is not so much tunnels, museums, art galleries, etc., as good footpaths and roads, which cost so little and give so much. Councillor Bennett states that electors are to know the whole truth before they go to the next poll. Does he infer that in the past citizens have not been told tho truth? Certainly they have been kept in the dark a mighty lot, as the council as at present constituted have an inbred love for the committee rooms, and this lack of wholesome discussion in the open council keeps citizens hopelessly in the dark. I am not a member of tho Civic League, nor do I know a single member of that body, but I consider it would take a dozen civic leagues to keep the present City Council on the rails. I think. Sir, we will have a good council next year.—l am. etc.. KHAND ALLAH. November 24. 1926.