THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1882. THE WATER SUPPLY.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2590, 26 July 1882, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 26, 1882. THE WATER SUPPLY.

Once more has the obstruction party won the day in connection with the water supply question, and Christchurch will still have to linger behind the other cities of the colony in the matter of progress. We cannot say that the result was unexpected. The battle of progress has had to be fought by a few, and the merchants and others, who it was reasonably supposed would have come forward and aided by their influence, were conspicuous by their absence. When this comes to be considered, and farther, that despite the convincing facts which have been adduced in favor of the scheme, the red herring of “ more taxation” has been successfully drawn across the scent. The verdict of the rate-

payers, so far as wo can gather, has had nothing whatever to do with the merits o£ scheme as to whether it is feasible or /hofc'J rThiiNqiea not appear to have been PofipJeredijßyi the majority of the ratepayers so ably generalled and commanded Samnel Clarkson. All the arguments, all the figures in the world would jhayo' no effect against the red rag of •‘1 mlbm-taxation ” waved forth triumphl£r. Clarkson. Had the disoussion which has taken pleas on this subject, and the verdict yesterday recorded been directed towards the consideration of the

feasibility or otherwise of the scheme and its adaptability to our wants, we should have been content, so far. It would, no doubt, have been somewhat galling to find the efforts made to advance the prosperity of the city go for nanght, but there would, at any rate, be some consolation in the fact that the matter had been fairly argued out and decided on its merits. This we most confidently assert has not been the case. Despite the fasts and figures by which it has been shown over and over again that the rate of lid in the £ did not mean increased rates, that, in fact, while paying out with one hand, the ratepayers would receive a revenue, this was the main point on which the contest was decided. In addition to the savings wo have already referred to as likely to be made, the insurance companies offered to make a reduction of 12k per cent on insurances. Yet the majority of ratepayers who went to the poll yesterday either would or could not see that the cry of “more taxation” was a fictitious one. To paraphrase a wellknown poem, “ theirs not to question why,” but to vote straight. We regret exceedingly the result; firstly, because it will retard the onward progress of Christchurch considerably; and secondly, because it shows ns that there is a large section of the ratepayers who are led away by a catch cry instead of carefully and sensibly reasoning the matter out for themselves. When it is possible for a gentleman possessing the oratorical ability and the zeal and activity of Mr. Samnel Clarkson to lead over a thousand ratepayers to vote against what will undoubtedly be found to be for their interest and the good of the city, it is time for those who have taken an active part in movements for the general benefit to spare their strength, and be contented to sit down quietly, Macauber like, waiting for something to turn up. The time will assuredly come, and that ’ere long, when the larger number of the ratepayers who yesterday voted against a water supply will regret it. When we come to compare what has been, and what is being, dona elsewhere in this matter with our apathy, the balance is decidedly against Christchurch. Not alone in this, but in all projects brought forward with a view of advancing our city and placing it where it ought to be in the fora front of the colony, a spirit of opposition, a want of enterprise and go-aheadism is shown which cannot but have a very prejudicial effect on the future of Christchurch. With the immense natural advantages wa possess for the building np of a city worthy to be called the Melbourne of New Zealand, we have persistently refused to make use of them, and deliberately shut onr eyes to the progress made by other cities with not one-quarter of our advantages. We hope to see this remedied some day, but for the present, Mr. Samnel Clarkson is master of tha situation.