THAT CHANNELLING.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXV, Issue 16, 20 January 1915, Page 2

THAT CHANNELLING.

Sir,—T think it quite unnecessary and absolutely undignified to iidopfc His Worship's "you're another" style of argument. In a discussion relatjng to matters of public interest no good is done by it. What wo have to do is to endeavour on public questions to adopt an absolutely impersonal attitude. Now, my position is tin's: The channels as laid down by Mr Climie were in accordance with modern ideas. Sydney, Auckland, Wellington and Christcburcb where new channelling lias been laid down have adopted the flat water tables, discarding the dished on«s. We are discarding the flat and reverting to a type that larger centres with their more up-to-date ideas evolved from wide experience aro discarding. This is not only waste, but double waste? His Worship is evidently one of those responsible. Who are the others? One would have thought that some test of the feelings on the matter of the ratepayers would t |,., V 0 i lOPn sought. But until the work was actually in hand no one outside the Council appears to have heard: about it. Was it reported in the "Evening Post" that it was to bo

done? and if not, why not? Now to the second part of the question. I asked His Worship through you what amount of the rates available for road upkeep was spent and being spent in Broadway, but ho discreetly shuns the question and gives us the information

' ►hat tworfifths oi the rates of the borough are raised in the business portion of Broadway. Now, Sir, I I think it may be laid down as a safe working principle that where the rates are raised they should, as far as pos. sible be spent. Now. will anyone have courage enough to say that twofifths of the money raised will pay for all that is spent in Broadway? If more is spent it is practically stolen

from those paying rates outside this area, and not only lias this groat expense, been incurred already, but more is foreshadowed in His Worship's letter,/and we are to be made proud of Broadway. It would be more to the purpose if those living outside Broadway were given reasonable access to their properties. I am, etc. HENRY WILSON.