THAT “GARDEN DEBRIS.”

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 779, 27 October 1922, Page 4

THAT “GARDEN DEBRIS.”

(To the Editor). Sir, —I notice the Mayor at last meeting of the Council cans attention to what he calls “garden debris’' on the streets and footpaths, and gels a motion put through deciding to prosecute offenders. Now. Sir, ihere is no doubt, as to who the Mayor meant, hut if the Mayor had taken the trouble to examine what he calls garden debris he would probably have been astonished to lind that it was Council properly. or Council debris, grown upon the Council's famous footpath, and not garden debris. And, being dial the Council has made an excavation on the road side, called a water table, below the level of the inlet of culvert. whereby a lake i> formed after every few hours rain, and remains until it soaks away elsewhere) il would be an act of charity for someone to dump a few toads of earth in il. The present condition of this particular piece of road is an absolute disgrace since the lasi works done to il by the Council. If the Mayor lias the interests of ratepayers generally at heart, why does lie allow the nuisance to remain. What did the Council do a few days ago in Edinburgh Street?' —and what does it generally do when they clean out water laldcs? They .just throw the refuse on to the side of I lie road in lumps or heaps, and when I lie ratepayer does the same he is threatened with prosecution. Therefore I say: physician. heal thyself ! But. I presume the intense glare from electric light dazzles the vision, and therefore the defects cannot be seen. But, because I dare to criticise -some of the sayings and doings of the Council the Mayor imagines he has caught me transgressing (guess again Mr Mayor)—or rather, make sure before making a statement: and get your staff to keep the footpaths clean. Surely our rates are sufficiently heavy to pay for this small work?) Then you would not have to complain about the way it is done by the man who does it without payment, and who likes to see his frontage and boundary kept neat and tidy. Perhaps a neat and tidy frontage does not appeal to the Mayor. (Alas! a thing a beauty is a joy for ever). By the way, dig the watertable a little deeper, and there will be no need for baths —immediately after rains this spot could he utilised. Now. Sir, to sum up, the Mayor accuses me of throwing garden debris on to ttie road. This is contrary to fact. What the Mayor calls garden debris was never inside my property, but is from the footpath, and is similar to what the Councip-throw on the side of the road when cleaning watertables and footpaths—hence, why such an exception taken in this ease? Echo answer: “Why?” —I am, etc., .1. T. STEMBRIDGE.