The feilding Star. TUESDAY, NOV. 24, 1885. Footpaths

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 71, 24 November 1885, Page 2

The feilding Star. TUESDAY, NOV. 24, 1885. Footpaths

At the next meeting of the Borough Council the resolution brought forward by Councillor EaCe relative to the formation of footpaths in Manchester street will again be subjected to discussion. The Council has already affirmed as a principle the desirableness of the motion being adopted ; it only remains now to decide by what means the necessary funds should be raised — whether by taking them from loan, or whether they should be a charge on those property-holders who would be benefitted by having footpaths made opposite their premises or land. One or two Councillors imagine themselves to be bound by actual or implied promises, made by them at the time the loan was sanctioned by the burgesses, to the effect that no money out of loan should be spent on footpaths, but the whole should bo devoted 'to street formation only. We do not dispute the fact, but we hold that no individual Councillor or ratepayer had any right or title to make pledges of any kind as to how any portion of the money should be expended. The ratepayers voted for the loan with its accompanying schedule, which made absolute provision for a given sum of money to be spent on each work named therein. There was nothing left to memory, which at any time is apt to be treacherous or misleading. The Council will be acting prudently if they keep within the four corners of the schedule, and only spend on each street or road the amount voted for it. It is merely splitting straws to say that making footpaths is not making roads. Every foot passenger has as much right to have his convenience and. comfort considered as the occupiers of vehicles or those who travel on horseback. Councillor Worbfold made a good point when he stated, at the last meeting of the Council, that the residents of Manchester street had never petitioned to have the footpaths made. This is perfectly true, but the reason for their reticence in the matter is probably that they have always expected the Council would be farseeing enough to . know that the improvement of what is now the principal street in the Borough, and over which the most traffic passes, must be of profit to every ratepayer in the ; Borough. It must also be remembered that Manchester street only asks that the money it is entitled to should be used for such improvements. "We have a word of advice to give Councillors when discussing this subject, which is to leave themselves and their private or personal feelings out of the question altogether. Each one should remember that he represents the whole of the ratepayers, and not a mere section or part of them. Because a Councillor brings forward a motion in which he may appear to be directly interested, it .does not , follow as a necessary corollary that his motives are impure. The chances are that he is actuated by reasons which will bear closer inspection than those of his ) fellow* 8 , who captiously oppose him. 1 We hope to see the Council arrive" at a just decision, and one which will assist. in the progress of the Borough, I whose welfare we believe ©very Ooun- "' cillor has honestly at heart. ■ *i