BOROUGH SANITATION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 180, 20 March 1914, Page 2

BOROUGH SANITATION.

We are sorry to learn of the decision that was arrived at at the conference held on Wednesday evening, between members of the Borough Council and certain objectors. In connection with the sewerage proposals for Pukekohe borough. Those present at the conference were the Mayor (Mr Lawrie). Crs Beatty, Bilkey. Hurley, Patterson, Polhck and Hamilton, and Messrs J. T. Stembridge, W. S. Russell, R. F. Webster, C. Cooper, H. Dell and F. Perkins. The deputation, we und.rBtaad, declined to accept certain alternative proposals submitted by the Council and finally the Council agreed that if th 3 objectors could present a petition from a majority of the ratepayers within the area to be drained, ojecting to the proposal, the scheme would be dropped altogether. This is a very amazing decision and altogether unsound in principle. We know of no loan proposal that was eveY submitted which did not encounter objection and it is safe ti say if the water loan, the streets loan, or any other progressive movement had been referred to the objectors for settlement by way of promoting a petition that Pukekohe woull be to-day where it was titty years ago us far as public conveniences are concerned. If the Council always accept this plan of escaping from its responsibilities we venture to say that never again will a loan proposal be carried in this burough and Pukekohe will simply stagnate. We want each ratepayer who is asked to sign this petition to say to himself or herself: "If I object to the sewerage scheme am I prepared to approve and pay for the night-soil service?" If a ratepayer is not prepared to accept that alternative he will be very ill-advised indeed to associate himself with the petition.