THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1881. THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2258, 24 May 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1881. THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

The impossibility of a house divided against itself being able to stand is not only a proverb bat a truism. The Drainage Board is so divided in its views on the genoral question of the drainage of Christchurch and subui-bs, that, apparently, it has made up its mind to take up a position of unmasterly inactivity until December next, unless indeed Mr. White's resolution be carried to the effect that the members resign because they do not possess the confidence of the ratepayers. Since we last wrote on the subject events have developed themselves with marvellous rapidity. At that date, indeed, the matter of the proposed Bill granting permissive powers to residents to drain solid excreta into the sewers was beginning to pass out of sight, being over-shadowed by the more burning question as to the allocation of rates—more burning because it ostensibly touched the pockets of the ratepayers more nearly. But still the views of the residents in the out-districts had not then so distinctly come to the front. But the last week has shown very clearly that a general feeling exists in the suburbs that the residents there are unduly rated in comparison to the advantages they derive from the scheme. Mr. Ollivier, at PhilipStown, after, rightly enough, passing an adverse opinion on the action of the Board in endeavoring to smuggle their Bill through the House, almost drew tears from his audience when he described the manner in which his district, in particular, was being treated by the Board in other respects. Judiciously overlooking the fact that the covered drain down the Ferry road has enormously raised the value of property in that locality, he practically passed a general vote of censure on tho Board—looking upon it as a purely Christchurch Board—for its extravagance. " Was there any reason in the argument," he said," that because a man had a rich and extravagant neighbor, such :aan should be called upon to take part and bear the burden of such extravagance." At which Mr Ollivier's audience cheered lustily. And then there have been meetings at Bingsland and Addington, and letters innumerable to the daily papers. Certain members of the Board have, naturally perhaps, been urged by these various indications to more closely press the views of their constituents at the meetings of the Board. The consequence of all this has been the present block, and a complete disintegration of the general policy to be pursued. Affairs have grown so complicated that it is extremely difficult to see any escape out of the present embroglio, the more so because tho various members of the Board, and indeed the residents in the various districts, appear to have no common platform on which they feel inclined to meet. It would seem, however, advisable at the present juncture to go back, as it were, to first principles, and remember why the drainage scheme was initiated, and what the state of affairs was which it was designed to remedy. We dwelt on this subject at considerable length in our last article on this subject, pointing out that the Drainage district was formed as being supposed to represent a tract of country affected by the same interests, as far as the public health was concerned, and that money had been borrowed on the security of the whole district. We farther alluded to the obvious fact that it was necessary to drain the central portion of this district first, leaving the outer portions to be dealt with as time went on. These are, at least, reasonable views of the raison d'etre of the Board, and of the operations they were called upon to initiate. The members of the Board were, according to these views, elected, primarily, as representing the whole district, and, secondarily, as representing that particular portion of it in which their constituents might dwell. This, we say, was the basis of the very being of the Board. But what is the state of affairs that we find now obtaining ? Certain members of the Board have entirely forgotten the above facts, and seem to have turned their attention solely to the saving to their districts so much money per annum in the way of rates. We are not now defending in any way the proposed allocation of rates by the Board, but are drawing attention to the fact that the out-districts are beginning to think that tho bargain they have mado is an extremely bad one, and that they had better shuffle out of it as soon as possible. To arrive at this conclusion they have abandoned the idea that common cause should be made throughout the drainage district, and have started the new theory that every district should act according to its own individual will in the matter. In point of fact it is very much the same as if every man in Christchurch city proper were to give up any idea of banding with his fellow-citizens to keep their several premises sweet and wholosome, and were to go in for that system which ho might think best, one man adopting the pan system, another draining into the river, and a third using a cesspit. Although this may be a reihictio ad ahsurdum, yet it seems to us that the motives which are actuating certain districts are on very much the same principle. Sydenham, for instance, having a clean and healthy neighbour in tho shape of Christchurch, proposes to deodorize its slops by some marvellous process, or send them into its gutters. It entirely refuses to be furnished with pipes, and as to any tacit compact in days gone by that the drainage scheme should bo one embracing the major portion of the municipality—why it utterly scouts the idea. It is determined not to be drained, and to keep its money in its pocket. And other districts are following much in tho same direction. Tho idea that the whole drainage district should take *' a long pull and a strong pull and well together," is giving place to the doctrine that every little corner ef it should have its own pet system, and that, as regards the public health, " let every district do for itself, and the devil take the hindermost."