The Times Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons. TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1921. BOROUGH SERVICES.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 684, 15 November 1921, Page 4

The Times Published on Tuesday and Friday Afternoons.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 1921. BOROUGH SERVICES.

The chaotic ..slate. of the lighting and wajter plant of this Borough is causing, the ratepayers considerable concern. For some time past the lighting has been anything but satisfactory, and on Saturday last the water was cut off at probably the most ;awkward period in the whole week. That the power house has had a break-down is admitted, But the fact -that fit is allowed to remain for weeks in an inefficient, state is a very bad advertisement for this town. Shopkeepers are loud in their complaints that the uncertainty of the light for Friday nights is preventing many people from venturing out. The fact that no guarantee is forthcoming thait they will have light for Christmas Eve is prompting many of them to make provision by providing oil lamps. This is really a serious state of affairs for a Borough which is popularly considered to be progressive and up-to-date. A new plant has been ordered, but cannot be here_ until February, and in 'the meantime the ratepayers, of .Pqkekohe may be without light or waiter or both quite often. What is the private enterprise a remedy would be quickly ‘found. Customers would nqt be allowed to suffer incqnvenience through a breakdown. A temporary engine, or a dozen temporary engines, would be bought or hired to carry on. The Borough could no doubt hire a steam engine to do the driving if the position of the ratepayers was fully realised by the local Council. “Impossible, ” said Napoleon, “is found in the dictionary of fools.” The present absolutely intolerable position must be faced quickly and decisively. It is no time, with Christmas almost here, *to delay and defer, and it is certainly unthinkable that the Council will allow the present apology for its (two main services to continue until February. Wo hope that in our next issue we will have a pronouncement from the Works Committee that the position has been dealt with, and that ratepayers can rest assured that an efficient service in each case will be rendered from now uqtil the permanent plant is erected in February.

“We nothing extenuate, nor aught set down in malice.”