The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1915 TOWN-PLANNING.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 165, 17 March 1915, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 1915 TOWN-PLANNING.

(With which is in<"rporat*d The Tni hape Poat ,&2 Waimarxnn News.)

. The building regulations oil the Borough, at last meeting of the Council, became the subject of a little storm in our municipal teacup, and now that the bete noir has been disposed of it is to be hoped for the benefit of the town for all time that.laws and regulations governing the upbuilding of the town will be enforced reasonably and equitably. Taihapc people arc at present, and will be for some time to come, in the .processes of town-planning and town-building, and the work they accomplish will tend either to their future credit or disgrace. Every councillor and ratepayer is interested in the well-being, safety and future greatness of the borough, or he is a traitor to his trust, and when any question affecting it is under discussion it will be as well to sedulously avoid all feelings of a factious natui>. It was evident from the report made by the Works Committee that the borough building regulations had been loosely observed in the past and that their enforcement by the Council had been lax, but it will be readily admitted by every councillor that what a mere village may do with impunity, without endangering the public weal, might be positively dangerous and disastrous for the town of.Taihape to do, even in .its present magnitude, that that, therefore, the time has arrived when any progressive step is to be taken it should be a matter of the utmost concern to see that it is on thoroughly safe ground, it is less the function of a public journal to go into tnirmtfe details of any particular cases of the kind fhat proved so troublesome to ths Council, than to discuss general principals and the regulations governing them, but it is of the utmost importance to the town that a course should now be laid down and followed without

material variation no mailer who may be affected. TKorg seems no

doubt that propeiiiy-OAvners havo iw a general way disregarded the building by-laws in the past; indeed, it was shown and admitted by councillors such was the case, but it augurs well for the future to see our municipal administrators nearing a whito heat stage in trying to beat down the old confirmed looseness and laxity. In the best interests of the community, in every way, and for the good fame of Taihape, it is to be hoped the recommendation of the Works Committee, that all offenders against the building regulations be prosecuted will never need to be put in force.

Among other mallei's which hang very heavily upon our Borough Council that came unclesdiscussion at last meeting, was the extension of the -water, drainage and electric lighting scheme to the western portion of the town. The.people in that area hare an undoubted right to such conveniences, if only"from the importance of the sanitary aspect, but here again the Council's desire is thwarted by strained finances. It is a matter that will force itself upon the Borough in the near future, and the only question now seems to be, is it better to continue a risk of infectiousness that may mean loss of health to many and loss of life to some, besides acquiring an ill-fame throughout the whole Dominion, or, for burgesses to saddle themselves with just a little more rating responsibility and boldly take up the work of putting the municipal house in such order as will ensure the most healthful conditions possible? The Council was about equally divided upon the question of at once employing a.u engineer to plan the necessary additional reticulation and furnish an estimate of cost for the whole scheme; in fact, it was only the adjustment of financial responsibility that caused delay of the proposal. The election of a new Council takes place next month, and in view of that fact it may bras, well to hear the proposals of aspirants for municipal honours before the borough is committed to any considerable expenditure. In'any case. it. seems advisable that a scheme in detail should be decided upon before any money is spent so that the work may be executed in the most economical way, avoiding and unnecessary filtrations. That councillors are in deadly earnest there is no doubting, and it only needs intelligent, comprehensive organisation to bring about a munieiv'aTUy, that every .burgess may well feel proud" of.