The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, March 14, 1914. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1220, 14 March 1914, Page 2

The Manawatu Herald. Saturday, March 14, 19 14. NOTES AND COMMENTS.

Tin-: residents of Foxton are all agreed that a water and drainage system tor the borough is a neces sity, and those who think the matter out ate convinced that a lack of at least a drainage system is nothing short of criminal shortsightedness. The health of the community should be the first consideration of citizens and were it not for the porous nature of our soil, bright sunshine and the prevailing sea breeze, town, under the present primitive arrangements, would be a prolific breeding ground for deadly disease germs. Certain people, however, must not imagine that even with the natural blessings we have mentioned, Foxton is proof against infectious disease. Periodically our little town pays toll in sickness and death to some deadly microbe whose latal ravages could be minimised if we had water and drainage. The stench of the pans at our back doors and the house tanks which provide our domestic water supply are also a source of danger from infection. Therearepeople, too, who thoughtlessly provide hot beds for disease germs in their back yards by allowing filth and vegetable matter to remain and decay instead of burning it. Such ignorance unfortunately exists even where a water and drainage service obtains. To instal water and drainage costs money, but any sacrifice in increased rates for this purpose, should be cheerfully made as the benefit so derived cannot be measured by a money standard. The ratepayers previously rejected a loan of £20,000 for au artesian water supply and drainage scheme, on the plea that a scheme from the Shannon hills was preferred. Well, they now have the opportunity of boosting the Shannon scheme, details of which are in the Council’s possession, the total cost of which is something over £30,000. It is for the Council to place the fullest information before ratepayers as to the efficiency of this scheme to prevent future misunderstanding and in order to ensure the carrying of the loan, We may mention that there are a number of ratepayers who still pin their faith to the artesian supply and it remains to be seen whether they will subordinate their prejudices for the sake of the health of the town. We believe the safest method for the Council to adopt to ensure the carrying of a loan for water and drainage would be to submit both proposals to the ratepayers, by personal canvass or otherwise, and then take a poll for the proposal which Is favoured by a majority. We make this suggestion for the Council’s consideration at Monday’s special meeting. The water and drainage question should be tackled fairly and squarely and settled once for all.