THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1379.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1819, 19 December 1879, Page 2

THE GLOBE. FRIDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1379.

His Worship tho Mayor ou re-assuming office for another term, took tho opportunity of giving his views on many subjects of interest to tho ratepayers. Tho most important of tho items touched upon was with reference to finance. His Worship—and we think prudently—counsels economy in dealing with tho city funds during tho ensuing year. He points out that owing to tho colony borrowing just now. thoro might probably bo a slight difficulty in floating a municipal loan. Whilst agreeing with his Worhip as to the necessity of economy, wo would desiro to call attention to one important point. Whether tho city has to raise a loan or finance tho requisite amount iu any other way, it is certain that an improved water supply is a pressing necessity. This cannot be postponed for reasons which must ho obvious. For instance, a largo fire might lose to tho city several years’ interest ou any sum that might b 6 raised for a proper supply. Tho other large scheme which has been under consideration —tho erection of a Town Hall, &c.—does not stand on tho same footing. In the present depressed condition of affairs, it may be true economy on our part to think only of undertaking such works as recommend themselves on the ground of absolute necessity. It is true that our financial position compares most favourably with that of any other municipality in New Zealand, but taking other matters into consideration, and bearing in mind that tho property tax will shortly come down heavily on all property holders, it may be right to look well ahead before we commit ourselves to an expenditure on an object without which we can after all manage to exist. By waiting a few years for an increase of population the interest to be paid on any town hall loan would weigh far loss heavily on individuals. No doubt it would require a considerable amount of self-restraint on the part of the City Council to carry on work for some time longer under the present or under any merely modified arrangements ; but retrenchment is never pleasant, and the application of the financial scalpel is pretty sure to shock the nervous system of the body politic. Wo have taken up the text started by the Mayor, a text out of which it is impossible to draw any very comfortable deductions. Our main argument is this—that in any proposed retrenchments tho water supply should not be included. It is an absolute necessity, and whatever scheme may be finally adopted, tho carrying out of the one that is fixed on should not bo delayed.

It is wo think to be regretted that Councillor Gapes should have deemed it necessary to have revived the question of the resignation of the late water supply committee. Not only was it an unfortunate selection as regarded the time, but to a great extent altogether out of place. The whole question is easily stated, and clearly understood. At the conclusion of the term of office of the old Council —indeed on the very night which concluded their labours in the interests of the citizens — the then committee brought up their report. This document, for the compilation of which our friend Mr. Cass received well-merited kudos, recommended most strongly the adoption of Mr. Vm. White’s scheme of supply from the Waimakariri. It was unanimously adopted by the Council, thereby endorsing and confirming tho opinion arrived at by the committee, that Mr. White’s scheme was tho most feasible one to go before the ratepayers with. Of this committee Cr. Gapes was a member. The new Council on assembling proceeded on the basis of the action of their predecessors. A water supply committee was appointed, of which Cr. Gapes was chairman. Now with the resolution endorsing and adopting the scheme of Mr. White, as recommended by tho committee, there could be no doubt of the intention of the Council to elect that committee solely and entirely to bring Mr. White’s scheme before the citizens. They were not elected to consider the feasibility of any particular scheme, but to carry forward one which had been already considered and adopted. This is so clear as not to leave tho slightest doubt on the mind of any one as to tho position of affairs. Cr. Gapes must have known that, in accepting office on that committee, he was doing so with the knowledge that they were bound to the scheme so far as submitting it to the ratepayers went. Therefore he should not have held office for one day after he discovered what must have been patent to any one. By holding office he tacitly acquiesced in the scheme whilst being in reality strongly opposed to it. The majority of the members acting loyally up to the spirit of their appointment had no alternative but to resign, as to attempt to carry on the work with two members pulling a different way to the rest of the committee would be absurd. We cannot understand the position taken up by Or. Gapes at all. If he was opposed to the scheme as he has declared himself, and still does, why did he as chairman sign the report recently presented to the Council recommending Mr White’s scheme to bo placed before tho ratepayers ? Why did he not make a stand, and at once resign his membership of a committee with the majority of tho members of which ho differed in opinion. Tho result has been tho loss of months of valuable time, and no amount of statements will compensate for this. We hope now that Councillor Gapes will quietly accept tho position, and exorcise his undoubted right to oppose tho scheme, but refrain from taking up tho time of the Council with statements of a personal nature.