South Canterbury Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1893.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 7066, 11 February 1893, Page 2

South Canterbury Times. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1893.

One result of the Harbour Board election on Monday, if the balance of power swings over, will be an economy in the working expenses equal to the engineer’s salary. For it is perfectly clear that the majority of such new majority are determined to be their own engineers, and not only their own engineers, but the professional advisers of the whole of the ratepayers concerned. It is very good of them to offer to do all their engineering for nothing, but whether it would be fair and honest of the ratepayers to accept their services gratis is another question. Mr Acton wants the ratepayers to decide before the election, whose plan shall be adopted in preference to that of the .engineers. This Is the criticism of a disappointed man. The choice is already made. The ratepayers in one district choose one thing, those in another, another thing. One member will be elected to look to deepening the harbour with the Taniwha, another to extend the mole from the bend, another to shift the shingle by tramway, another to stop it by groins, another to float it away on a sea current, and so ou. Mr Acton is irritated and shuts his eye to the obvious consequence of electing a variety of amateur engineers, which, is, that all the plans will be adopted. If any extra cost is entailed by “ double-banking,” the saving of the paid engineers’ salary will be there to be drawn upon.