Wake Up, Clevedon!

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 310, 14 September 1917, Page 1

Wake Up, Clevedon!

LTq-Xhe Jmtor] Bir—Concerning our local bodies' elfortf, or rather lack of efforts, as a ratepayer I would like, with your permission, to ask a. few questions of interest to ail ratepayers, Clevedon or elsewhere, arising from a consideration of Brown's bridge, viz: 1. Is it true that the extras cost about as much as the original contract? * 2 What was the cost of the plans and specifications, and why did the specifications need altering? 3. Was it wise to go to so much expense with a new bridge at the present time, when a few pounds would have made the old bridge serviceable for ten years ? 4. Was it wise or economy to put duwn merely flat blocks of concrete n mud, without pile?, for a structure that ought to last hundreds of years? s 5. Was it wise Or economy to put unprotected iron into such a structure?

6. Was it wise or economy to have a structure built with mt a representative flf the local body being present all the time to prevent defects creeping in ? • .. 7. Was it wise Or economy to 'stint the cement in a structure that, properly constructed, should last a thousand years? 8. Was it wise or economy to put salt water gravel into such a structuee when we knew the chemical .activities of chlorine ? - 9. Isitcoirect that the members of the Council knew so little of their "business" as Councillors that they "fell into a hole" over a special rate to pay for Brown's bridge ? 10. Am I right in thinking the Council has no conscience in the' expenditure of public money ? - 11. Isit impossible for a Riding member of a County Council to instruct himself as a member of a Road Board into the sphere of each body's activities ? I would like to ask a lot more questions but do not wish to trespass too much on your space, so I will conclude with this one, 12 Is it true that the Road Board having let the roads, get —ahem ! dustleas, intend to get out of their mess by stinging their roads (vulgar people would call that mud-slinging) on to the Council ? -1 am, etc, BAM A. BROWNE. Clevedon, 3rd September, 1917

[To the Editor! **>ri la replying to a critic I nu-ntiontd the " agency" «f the Boad Bo rd in the acquisition of the quany and scenic reserve. This agency Mr Browne disputes and claims for himself and inviteß me to read the minutes concerning the purchase. Th'»se of the Clevedon branch of the Farmers' Union, of which body Mr Brown is a member, will suffice fur the present. They show that the local branch of the Farmers' Union took action in 1908, and appointed a committee consisting of Messrs 8. A. Browne, A. D. Bell and C C. Munro to go into the matter. This committee did much preparatory work and finally invoked the "agency" of the Boad Board on December 21st, 1912, and on January 18th, a month later, reported to the Fanners' Union that the Boad Board had agreed to purchase and had taken an option. In my previous letter I mentioned the "agency" of the Boad Board in a casual manner, and on reflection 1 think I am justified for surely Mr Browne will admit the Boad Board to be the accredited agency for the ratepayers. And as only a month had elapsed from the time of the matter being brought before that body till the latter took the option, the bungling which Mr Browne alleges, and of which I can find no evidence, could not have taken long anyway. In reference to the Board's finances I have not heard of a Boad Board that was able to get along without an overdraft Perhaps during Mr Browne's regime as Chairman things were different. However, his statement that the Boad Board in effect wastes 15s out of every £1 is somewhat startling Such rash allegations certainly discount anything else he has to say, perhaps this is a result of his "scientific appraisement." Yes, long live science, the science of Mr Browne. Furthermore,-if Mr Browne wants a fence erected on the boundary of bis property with that of the Road Board an application to the Chairman in the usual way is more likely to bring him satisfaction than a letter to the paper, the latter method being somewhat childish. Mr Browne's suggestion of putting a path through the bush fur ladies is wor h cons deiing. I note the quotation, which is not quite consistent with A- r BrowneV claim for the agency for the pur chase of the bush.—l am, etc., JOHN LUKE, Whakatiri, September 7th, I'JIT.