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Hokitika Guardian, 29 May 1929, Page 4

Tnu liwtomeiii) ti obtain nssistan.e from the ..overnmoul unemployment he ne I r the local l.orough, is in ~.e,» midi that oi other centres. At ,iie mo ..out there is the opening lor useful municipal woik in attend.tig to llie drainage of the back pmvion ol tin* town, and labour to.ild bo employed urditably in attending to works which might he classed as of a permanent h-ar.nter. The drainage of the hack portion of the town lies been a prn-

lem I r the Coumil over many years. Gradually, however, as far as tuiuls would ahow, the p isiti n has been grappled with till, of late, the situation hi:is mended very considerably. There is, however, a ways the risk ol flooding in time of heavy rain. Jhe wo squares at the hack ol the town in particular—ll liit-unhe and Hmvill

•seen to hold a large quantity of water, die t > the fact Unit no doubt that they have to- receive the drainage from the hill behind. The surplus wafer has ueen find dig its way mainly by the Bcaley Street drain, hut in abnormal times, the water overflowed, (''coded tile adjacent seethes and secured life roadways and footpaths. The Hall and Sale Street drains have been dditional outlets, but still inadenii-t'’ t- cope with the flooding rainfalls. Now it is suggested to tap the hack reserves fr-rn RiTcston and Davie Streets if 'lie funds can be acquired, and if will be useful w-rk indeed to ro the scheme carried through. Tin' Bo rough .'Council is naturaV hampored by want of revenue to do all 'hat is ne-e'-sarv in an extended area <uoli as the t wn occupies, 'flic rates •u-'> ’itnited under the unive -roved v a’ue rating system, and wi'h very li'tle ohms' icily in other sum-os ' f in--nmo. finur-e has been stringent. The C-uncil, however, has made a praiseworthy'effort to live within its means, and it is credit able that in doing so the rrs+riatod expenditure has not. ‘•nyoored of nn rsiiomr-. The now to secure a subsidy np to £l.OfP ~n permanent, works of the nature referred to a nove. should lie of value t" the t -vii as a whole in that a ir'' c t. ippful work will be performed, while r>th»i- money wi’l he free f-.r lesser works in various parts of the town, r.ml indirectly all parts of the B'rough will be assisted.