MR EAST'S ADVICE.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1003, 23 September 1903, Page 2

MR EAST'S ADVICE.

'\To the Editor Gisborne Times. Sir, —Some folks would like to rob a ratepayer of his virtues because he has changed his mind in the matter of a water scheme, and look upon him as one who has joined the giddy multitude to do evil. I truly thought it right myself to advocate Mr Mestayer’s scheme as it appears after reading his book, but when I went to see the place of proposed supply 1 awoke to the horrid fact of a possible shortage at the very time when water is most required, and I now look upon Mr Mestayer’s effusions as an unrealisable fairy tale. Sir, it is an advantage which a living ratepayer has over a dead one, that he can change his opinion, and as there is no moral principle involved there can be no reflection as to virtue. Whereas I did in a half-hearted manner uphold Mr Mestayer’s scheme, I am now so much convinced of the ultimate failure of such a Bcheme to adequately supply our needs—or to come any way near it —that I ask all my friends to follow me in this course, and save themselves and this thriving little town from a state of semi-bankruptcy. If Mr Mestayer had an abundant source of water to draw from he would never have mentioned the fact of a possible or probable failure in supply. Now consider for a moment what it would mean in regard to the sewerage question if the pipes were dry for a few weeks only in the summer. We might provide—by having tanks—for the filling up of our kettles, but we could not possibly provide the quantity of water necessary to keep the sewer pipes cleansed. I say, sir, that typhoid, and all other concomitant sicknesses, would be multiplied a hundredfold ; in fact, it is a positive menace to society to attempt to introduce such a possible result, and I say —vote it out. —I am, etc., James East.