THE FLOOD AND THE COUNCIL.

Evening Star, Issue 20132, 23 March 1929, Page 22

THE FLOOD AND THE COUNCIL.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir,—The recent flood has shown us what we have gained by placing our trust in our present City Council. 'Hie cry used to be “ Put not your trust in' princes, for in them is no salvation.” Now it is “ Put not your trust iu councils, for in them is no hope.” In 1923 the Leith burst its banks, and the drains also burst with the pressure. In 1929 the Leith again overflows its banks, but in some parts of tbo city the drains did not burst. I am referring to Hanover street. Castle street, and St. Andrew street. In these places the streets were bare and tho drains doing splendidly. Then the Leith came along, ran down Leith street and adjacent streets, and the flood waters collected from Hudsons’ to Hislop and Gibson’s garage, and from King street to Aiiziic avenue. The Leith in these particular places was the solo rauso ol damage. Eor some months past there have been several hundred unemployed in Dunedin. When these people applied for work tho members of the council leant back in their comfortable chairs and replied complacently: ‘‘Wo would if wc could, but wo can't. There is no work to do.” Then they wont home, had a good supper (those who hadn't indigestion), and wont to a comfortable bed. The unemployed go hack to charity and a cheerless fireside. Six years ago the council had its warning—six years to prevent it—and then “We have no work for you.” I believe that tho council should D© prosecuted lor negligence and the endangering of people's lives and property. It nearly broke my heart to see a father, molher, three little toddlers, and n baby, all with their little bundle, chilled, wet. crying, and homeless, paddling knee-deep in a racing current. There was one old couple who sat crying and refusing to leave their home. Boor old souls; what debris they had to remove to make their little cottage presentable. 1 know of two or three cases where people were swept off their feet, and, but for timely assistance. would have probably been drowned. There are two bouses near the bridge in Leith street (the bridge that was, f moan). If I had had the power I would have sent the councillors to work on these houses instead ot the poor women who occupied them. Those councillors are ready enough lor a library loan of 015,000. When it comes to providing sustenance for starving women, men, and children, the council is merely conspicuous by Us absence. At the point where the Leith street bridge was. the right wail Humid have been fifteen yards Inrlher back and a good wall coiistrnet"d, loit in height, above the ground level. If thoughts could harm, the whole council would be getting measured lor a long black box.—l am, etc., Dixik. March 22. TO TUB KDITOB Sir.—-1 trust that all ratepayers will read the report of the Drainage Hoard in your (taper ol March 21, and especially the answer of Mr Wilson in reply to'Mr Scott. 1 consider it of such a serious nature that it demands a mass meeling of ratepayers, when a review of the.'report and ail it means can be thoroughly discussed. Our rates are being increased time alter time, and no one seems to care or everybody is afraid to speak out and tell us where and how tho money is being spent—or I should say squandered, for that is rcallv tho case.

\Ve will leave the Leith watercourse nut ni' the question in the meantime, hut. take that white elephant the Hanover street sewer for instance. Personally 1 w'as putting the cost ol it at between 230.000 and C-10.000. and was simply staggered to read in the report that it cost 270.000. I use the term “ white elephant ” wdien a costly undertailing turns out to Im useless. Then the report goes on to Wilkie read. Do the ratepayers know that the whole length of sower was put down in three sections, one from the Anderson’s Bay road to King Edward street, another from Hie Glen to near old Cnversham tunnel, and the cost did not exceed 2o,000? Yet Mr Wilson states that CGO.OOO is on the next allocation for improving Wilkie road. Now 1 lie first section of the present sewer is hall out of the ground between King Edward street and the Bay road, (he levels from Hie water level at the harbour end causing this You can understand that the cmwn of tho sew'er must be very close to the tram lines, and to get the level to the Glen intake tho sewer of the second section had to he 2011 below road level near the middle railway bridge in Wilkie road, and near (be snefa-e atrnn at the entrance into tbo Main South road. I want to know what kind of sewer it is (imposed In put down, seeing these levels cannot lie altered to any extent, and if the amount stated in the report is like that for Hi” Hanover street sewer, then 1 think we can add another twenty or •hliiv thousand to Hie cost. Why such an on Hay when another 4D sewer alongside the nrcsent one would answer the purpose for the next hundred years?

There are several other instances quite as glaring in which our money is being wasted, which, if ventilated at .. public meeting, would open the eyes of ratepayers, t prefer not. to go further into detail on this subject at present. buty if a meeting can be called by tire Ratepayers’ Association I would be pleased to give fuller information.— I am, etc., Tnos. Hixdi.k. Alarch 2d.