LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 8, Issue 472, 14 October 1919, Page 2

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.

Papakura Park. Sir, —It would do justice to members of the Town Board ratepayers and myseif if you could allow me space to answer a lettler signed E 8. Cole, which appeared in your Friday's issue. Mr Cole brings me to task for trying to belittle those who do not agree with me. Now, I would draw his attention to the fact that his letter does me credit, he drops all discussion on the favourability of a park site, and his whole letter is an endeavour to belittle me in the eyes of ratepayers-which he sadly failed to do.

In regard to the loan he refers to, his remarks aro misguiding. One of his trio, then chairmman of the Board, reduced the amount to £IOOO, and in my endeavour to raise it as near £'2ooo as possible I voted for the £12.50, rather than have the loan lost.

His statemont about the East street property being carried at a recent moeting is piffle. And referring to mombers leaving the meeting, Mr Colo left a meeting whilst he was a Board member after he had mado a proposal about kerbing and channelling a certain footpath, which whs eventually carried. (Want of oxporience I suppose r) Sacrificing in value £-")00, as Willis Bros, did, would be a sound proposition for myself seeing they roserved a row of sections which would have brought in inflated prices twofold above the sum named, had tho Board accepted the offer.

I would point out that my generosity to the Board where it is within tuy power is not lacking. On the Board's suggestion to straighten the Great South Road by the Police Station I gave a portion of my property for the purpose, and the deeds are still in the Board's office. For the same purpose the Board approached Mr Cole for a portion of his section, to raise the curve on Stock Road. After a lot of persuasion, he, I believe, consented. Although it has not been actually given yet. Mr Cole's remarks re the merits of the swamp site are also misguiding. Dr Brookfield's section does not face the swamp, but the sections that were to be reserved by Willis Bros, and Mr Markwick's house, just finished, is nowhere near the site. How can ratepayers take notice of such misleading remarks ? Mr Cole's challenge is amply answered in the same edition of the Time 3as his letter appears, by Mr Campbell, there being £27 surplus after interest on the £2OOO is paid. I would enlighten the ratepayers that Messrs Cole, Btewart and Wills have not yet told them why not to vote for the park loan, as promised in their manifestos. I note with pleasure Messrs Bland aud Davies' kind act allowing enterprising golf players to use his pro perty, and also the large number of people allowod to frequent his property on Sundays and holidays. Surely tho ratepayers will acquire this most popular recreation ground. However, we must have a recreation ground, and the two previous sites suggosted have been withdrawn by tho owners in favour of the seaFide. Tut: TutTed: be a sporr, and vote for your Sports and Recreation Gruund.—l am, Sir, Still a Successful Business Man, W11,1.1A M RirUAKDSON. Papakura, October !o, lit]'.'.

Ink,—As one who for a number of years has takon an appreciative interest in tho civic all'airs of Papakura, and also as one having a good opinion of those controlling the local government of the suburb, may I be permittod to write a few lines concealing the proposed Park for Papakura ? I have road with interest the controversy anout tho said Park, and whilst recognising that the subject is one admitting of diversity of opinious, there is no question but that the one of paramount importance is the securing of the site lending itself moat suitable for a cark. For in these days of Town planning schemes, the people must be on the alert to make provision for all the purposes a park is set apart for. The discussion on town planning at the conference recently held in Wellington particularly impressed me or the advisability for the people of any borough—and certainly in a few years from now Papakura will be a borough—to secure, before encroachments are made for other purposes, land suitable for recreation ground and the people's pastimes. And that being so, what more suitable site could be decided upon than that parcel of land, already the property of the Papakura Town Board, in Green Street; a site of such ▼alue for such a purpose we must realise the advantages and gains likely to result from the selection of the best site. Fancy the water front, with possibilities of salt water baths in the future, and possibly an adjunct to other sports—acquatic sports the site in Green Street has considerable advantages over and obove all other sites. Personal matters and personal interests should |not enter into a discussion of so important a nature. The future progress of Papakura demands that people of Papapura consider the best means of considering "the future in the distance," and the welfare, not of a section, but of the whole community.

Hoping to learn that at the forthcoming poll tho site in Green Street will be votod for in the interests and wolfaro of a rapidly growing and progressive township. Percy Tayi.ou Devonport, October 13, 1!> 1