CORRESPONDENCE.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 42, 28 March 1929, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

KINGS ROAD DRAINAGE.

Sir, —In view of the final paragrapn in your sub-leader- of last issue, jnay I place on record the following facts?

■■■If—^The very poor quality of :•. the pipes_was brought to the notice of one of the- engineer's assistants. .He stated that they were quit all right and had stood a smoke test and that the-f-aulty looking ones would be patched as laid.. So much for the intention 1

2— r-I then wrote -to a member of the Works Committee, and also to. the engineer. Although-1 have not received any acknowledgment from the oug'ii-e.er/I-.have every reason to believe, uhat he received my letter.' /

3.—An enterprising xepjesenca ri\;e of your paper then approached me per telephone, for 'something for 'pucJlitiatftm.' I demurred. Nexfr day he v'iVited me and impressed on me the filet that the matter should .be ventilated, and he also put me in touch with a prominent councillor. It was then I agreed to give him a letter on the subject, part of which was published In your last issue.

4.—Your sub-leader, and the 'statement of Sir. Alex. Roberts, (Chairman of the Works Committee);" convey impreßsion that" the pipes. were discovered to be unsatisfactory, upon arrival, I* would be more aceurats f you said. that; immediately my letter reached the engineer, an inspection »vas made when it was found that pipes received over" a week prviously were absolutely unsuited for sewerage.

s.—Mr. Strand's statement "that' no pressure or suggestion was made in connection with jthese pipes any rnoie than for Hume that have been used in the Iwrough previously" leaves be bewildered. ' •

6.—The Mayor's reference to, the '' book of propaganda would seem to be ratheT 'in- fra dig,' as no allusion of mine to it has been published. However, since he will introdtfee that matter I would observe that the things that really concern us are: —(a) Are the statements in the pamphlet true? (b) Are the photographs showing, the effects of sewerage on concrete pipes genuine? and (c) Are some of riie'. engineers whose.experiences are.quoted among the world's foTemost.^ drainage experts! , . _

It is apparent. it|iat;ihe seventy odd pipes eventuaiiy^^^^ed^ out of a total of one hundred aU^/ eighty-two delivered, are to7 be laiUy arid. I would suggest in all earnestndss that the ,CouneJ'l should insist that the porosity of t!ie drain be tested before it is connec-tod up. That is another point altogetfier apart from the major bne.-^I am. els., ]. ~ ' J. W. ANDREWS, , 25/3/1929. - ■■ .;: .-;.'■ Sir, —Your correspondent, E. W. Hufsthouse, has shown, a deplorable lack: of perspective in his contribution in support of Sir. Alex. Roberts. Can he. point to ma,ny really successful mayor who have been Borough Councillors ? Does he know ,„ of a N single Lo rd MayoT of London, or of Sydney, who has graduated through /the Council, arid then successfully filled- the ih-air in the higher office? Does he know cf any illustrious Chief Justice _ who hrts previously served as a Judge ? Al-. though service as a councillor is tVer-■ tainly no, deterrent-I am of the opinion that there are-things that ma ttOT more than that to Lower Hutt to-day. I One of these things is, leadership. j need in the Mayoral Chair a man who cannot be stampeded. We need a man who is ~able to give active attention to borough matters, and is always accessible. We need tt man who is fearless, and progressive." Mr. Power has earned recognition in all of the pnb,lie bodies with which he is connected as a progressive, level-headed "go-getter." I have an open mind on the question, but I need more than t,he epistle .of E. W. Hursthouse to ■ convittee me that his favourite has all the attributes to make the better mayor.— I am etc., - - ■ P. WHITE.' 274 Main Street; Lower Hutt.; ■

Sir, —I liaye followed the refereuees in your 'paper -to tie concrete pipes now being laid,in Road, and I am sure tjiere aie a number of people like myself who' a-fe not satisfied with, the explanations tendered. We have been told that concrete pipes, axe perfectly satisfactory for sewage, but that some at least of the pipes deliverad were not up to standard. The suggestion is that the Hume Company is entirely to blame. Will you assure us

that first quality sewage pipes were ordered and that the J-j satisfactory financial terras arranged" were not contingent on second-class pipes being delivered. _ , . . Mr. Strand's explanation does nothing but" confuse the issue. He says that "no pressure or suggestion was made in connection with these pipes any more than for Hume pipes tint have been used in_the Borough previously. ■" This calls for a further .explanation.' ■-- One other aspect I would like to have cleared up, Sir Alex Roberts is first reported as knowing nothing about the pipes;'then that he authorised them after consultation with Vie engineer/ The policy of. jthe cojuiicil is opposed to concrete pipes for savM age and we are asked to. believe tUat the engineer and of works eonimittee are ignorant of en important policy item. . ;.-.. ,:"-■■"■ .■/"':■'*. I troist sir, now that the matter hasbeen taken up it will be gone into.—l am etc.,: : ,:: - THE-BEST. IS GOOD ENOL&GTT.