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Hokitika Guardian, 29 December 1920, Page 2

We cannot say that the appearance of the streets and footpaths of the town present such a condition as to impress visitors with the idea that here is a municipal body which places its .town first all the time. Certainly wjtliin a fortnight of Christmas the day labormen were engaged on cleaning up, but after months of neglect it was impossible to overtake the arrears. The .Council by its niggardly methods of street maintenance has not given the road staff fair play in attending to the cleanliness of the roads, the water-tables, and the better kept condition of the footpaths. The maintenance men are not engaged

solely, on maintenance. If they were the town would bo kept in a more presentable manner. Instead of doing maintenance work they are employed in constructional work or water supply repairs, often outside the town, and the streets suffer continual neglect which results in the unfavorable view which strikes visitors here during .the holiday season. The town like an„individual, should afford to keep itself in a cleanly, presentable state, otherwise the sooner it is "relieved of civic status the better. This is a matter in which public opinion might express itself more loudly than it does. We have complained along these lines befovo but the Council as a whole is indifferent to the strictures. People talk in the streets and discuss the situation more in sorrow than in anger, regretting the loss of pride in appearances which the Council has manifested. The town can do better. It has done better in the past. Perhaps in the immediate future the desired reform will set in. Certainly the work is there to be done in the way of smartening up' the general appearance of the streets. The Council will soon be reorganising its road staff and at least one labourer should he set aside to do strictly maintenance and cleaning up work. If there were the definite responsibility on such a workman, who .had the full year ahead of him for the work, the result would soon be apparent. Surely it is worth £250 a year to the town to have its streets cleanly and in presentable order. If the place cannot afford that sum then it should go out of the municipal business, and let some other system rule. We do hope councillors will take a pride in thentown, as they do in their homes, and smarten things up. The ratepayers will willingly pay the cost

Apropos of the amenities to make the town more attractive not only to visitors, but also to those who sojourn here permanently, too much praise cannot be given to those gentlemen who have taken such an interest in beautifying Macandrew Square and the waste ground round about the Public Buildings. Tlie two spots referred to are real beauty spots which rival the appearance of like plots in tlie centres. They are an example of what can be done with a little applied effort, and i i B to be regretted that they have nol excited emulation in regard to other lcoalities about the-town. Cass Square for instance, occupied as it will be in a few days with a throng of folk, is in i most ill-kept condition. Even tin sometime pleasing little spot at tin Pioneers’ corner lias been allowed t< become bedraggled. This should no he. Time will soon carry us to the threshold of another year. -It would be an appropriate resolve not so much t< turn over to a new leaf, but to go bad to one of the old leaves, and begn ao-ain to take a pride and sliou ai interest in the town and its possession as of vore. People are all extremely pleased and proud of the beauty spot: at Macandrew Square and at the Pu> lie Buildings, and if those who care to them realised the pleasure it gives t visit the two points referred to, the: those responsible for the good worl would feel themselves well repaid. J the places were left bedraggled am allowed to go wild, the contrast wouh be disheartening. The pr.de and plei sure taken in the favored places migh well he extended to other parts of th town, and if the Council took up th work as it very properly should th public would repay them .with gratitud for attention to something which count a good deal in tlie sim. of civic life we lived We believe if the Council aske for the help* a- Beautifying Societ could he formed to come to their hel in the management and direction ( such a policy, and much practical a: sistance would lie forthcoming. This i one of the matters the town must need take up if the string of visitors to th Coast are to be impressed at all with th outward appearance of the capital c Westland.