CORRESPONDENCE.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 11, 7 August 1930, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

Sir, —'Allow me to congratulate you on your leading article in last week's "Hurt News" dealing with the conditions of Waiwctu and I crave space to add further to your very excellent "wail." '" '■ "

Three years ago I was one of the unfortunates who decided to settle in this district and during this three years.my rates have almost doubled. The following is a fairly accurate statement-' of services renderd for rates received.

lloads.—For the first two and a half years the grader appeared in .-Waiwetu Road about half a dozen times for which servieo I paid in rates about £7. Xast year my rates were : nearly £1,0. ,(This year 'th,ey are £11/5/-). 'The Council has justified its increase- this year by depositing on Our road a fewloads of loose niietal aiid by sending the grader down upon several occasions to do its best to ffll up the trench-like holes. In justice to tlic Council I'must give them, credit for sending a man dawn once every year to clean the gutters of grass and weeds. This grass, etc., has been deposited on what should be the footpath in nice tidy heaps and after remaining there for about twelve months most of the. residents use' it

as garden manure,

Footpa.ths.-T-Last year the Council Yore good enough to put down a footpath camposed of rotten xock. A tractor with roller attached rolled this into compact moulds and we. had visions of a beautiful Rock Garden similar to that placed in front of our late Mayor's home. We are a disappointed' people— so far the growth is composed of weeds and grass two f.eet high. Surely sir, it is most unfair that'^ money should^ be spent upon street plantations whiie we in. this district are without footpaths. We are niostly young married couples who are struggling to furnish our homes and it is -hardly fair that our wives should have what few drresses they possess, covered in dust by passing motorists. Most of us have one or two children and it is a real and serious danger that these children . shpuild be compelled to walk to school upon a road which has an almost continuous stream of traffic. ! /

In conclusion I would^Uke^^Jhank^ the^Ouncif^ior securing from^the iPublie Wprks I)e|partment sufficient money1 to pace half the Hall Jones Estate and to suggest to them that, as we are being rated' very heavily; as the livies of our children are of more importance than street plantations; as the cotmicillots have amoral duty to protect these yoUDtg lives; as f iye. : -can't, afford'newdresses every time\mr wives are splash: eel with mud and as apparently no councillor knows of our existence, they make some effort to get to know and love us so tHat money will be provided 'to meet the claiois of the residents of Wai-

wetu Road whose crying needs . are— footpaths.—l am etb^,

THE OPTIMIST. »

(Sir, —'Further to your excellent leader in last week's "Butt l^ews" may I emphasize the -*rieed foT footpaths in this district on- behalf of the mothers ? There are over thirty mothers attendi ing the Plunket Room each and the majority have to traverse some'part of Waiwetu Road to get there. ' Last the Council made curbs and deposited rotten rock and clay on the -western side of the road and while the fine weather lasted this was at least an .apology for a footpath. Now it is nothing' but slippery mud, making it very trying for little feet, and very liard work to push a pram; On the eastern side of the road, there is an excellent • collection' of weeds, all species being well 7 represented,' so that in attempting to walk on the footpath one is literally "knee deep:in daisies!." The only-al-ternative then, is the road itself which is a secondary highway with a great deal of motor .traffic. , It is always covered with loose metal^ and the wear 'and tear on pram tyres and mothers' shoes is no smali item in the family 'budget.' Most, if not all, of, the mothers in this district are wives of rate-

payers, and surely ytfiey are entitled to some degree 'of safety1 and comfort when taking their family for -the. very necessary outings. A"s a tnenfcber of the < f Push Chair Brigade : myself, I Can assure you Mr. Editor, it is no easy task trying t6 dodge motor traffic, potholes and mud splashes every time one ::."■(■ .■■..•■■■■■'-■■

ventures outside the front gate. " Surely our Council cannot allow t&is state of affairs to continue, and I trust that as a result of the publicity you have given the matter, Waiwetu Road -will soon have its very necessary footpaths. —I am etc.,

A MOTHER