CORRESPONDENCE.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 13 July 1910, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

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To the Editor. I .Sir,—My few remarks 011 tho question of the library site have bad a. s rather good effect on the Borough • Council generally, a>iucl 011 Mayor I Gardener particularly. Jn your aci oount of Monday night's meeting J noticed t .110 taJk or Itbreats of agitation if Cambridge street site was not selected. We liavo another "strong speech" from our Mayor, in which your humble servant is made the scape-goat. 1 feel dee)>ly honoured at 'being tho meains of calling forltb a "fighting speedi" from Mayor Gardener 1011 tho past .business of the Council. Again to tbo Mayor's business tactics in dealing with important Borough affairs: Certainly the site selected at the rorner of Oxford and Balth streets is an improvement on the Cambridge street position; but," if built there (which T doubt) it will be a moiiiiiment to our worthy Mayor's bad management of Borough affairs. Hero it is, Mr Editor: .Alt) MOll- - the Mayor in Ms wisdom, decided to go 011 with the business of selecting a library site, with tint full knowledge that with tho absence of Cr. Hannan his pa rty held the balance of power—bis being the casting vote. On the Council, as iiiow constituted, there is a minority of one in favour of Bradley's site for .the library. That one was ill, and not able to attend .tiho meeting, and sent- a letter asking that the fjnestio'ii bo deferred. No, Mr lulitor, the Mayor, with Juis minority, decided to go on with the game. J hose favouring Bradley's site had no other recourse but to throw t.beir \otcs 111 with the Oxford niriitl Bath strenls corner. This site is altogether unsuitable; under the conditions, it will be expensive, unsightly, and 'not conducive to the best interests of tho ratepayers. Then, again, as !to the. Mayor's wisdom of deciding at 'Monday's mewtnP -if rr ( '' (,ctl ?' l of « councillor to - Ul ' Hudson's vacancy is to take place next Knowing that the question of a suitable sitis all-important ,to tire succcss of a library, would nt not .have been more to have waited the results of tho elect iion ?

I lie question of situ nestled no [ .such lijiste as the .Mayor preitemk'd and an exprejwon from a .full , ncr "IK of tho Council _ wouJd have shown what the majority of the ratepayers wanted. \o" Mr tor, Slidi unsportsmanlike .tacrtics as those shown iby Mayor Gardner need more than ordinary criticism. Ho niTy call my ronwrks ".bfeck--5" a . v » ' hut his ac.tiions f -.vould term irresponsible. In conclusion, I W; f]l a< H t ] lat T r 1 . oert j!i" y «-,iill refuse ~|^ V 0 towards a li'bnvry thHt will need ,<>t leni?t £400 of the amount sunk in a g,navel nit Tor n foundation.—Yours, etc., WATCHFUL.