The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1920. BOROUGH LEVELS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3443, 24 March 1920, Page 4

The Taihape Daily Times AND WAIMARINO ADVOCATE.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 24, 1920. BOROUGH LEVELS.

With which is incorporated “The Taihape Post and Waimarino News.”

If mankind generally had the moral courage to admit errors to the extent of self-correction many millions of moneys would be rescued from the refuse dump. Individuals, organisations, and corporate bodies are often discovered ‘trying to demonstrate to the world that they are infallible, hence it is that much bitterness is engendered an.d much monetary loss sustained, to say nothing of resulting inefliciency. pNothing is more admirable in daily life than frank admission of his errors by some strong, honourable man, a man whose open-faced lever countenance is free from pettifogging stubbornness and less admirable qualities, whose figures stand out clear, and hands move boldly and decisively to unveil the truth that many men ever seem to be seeking while 10th to find it. But amongst the great men of histry it has ever been those who succeed who have recognised their errors of judgment and commonplace blund-‘ C-rs. Taihape people are in the midst; iof spending a fairly large street im-M lprovenient loan; diiference of opinion [has arisen, in the early stages of the work, of a rather serious nature, and it seems as though‘ there is much more concern about who is responsible for the mistake or misunderstandings than about devising an expeditious remedy. Now, there is either lfaulty or unreasonable levels set for lfootpaths, or there is not. If occupiers of business premises on both sides of the street are saltisfied the levels chosen are going to prove costly to -them and act as a deterrent in the slightest degree to their respective businesses, and if the majority of ratepayers and citizens support the conltentions of businessmen it seems the !height of folly to persist with such 3 levels. The unfortunate aspect is that. in trying to secure practical views I from ‘those concerned, one is met with a flood of words about who is at fault. '11; matters nothing who is at fault; to err is human, to confess one’s errors is divine. Ratepayers want the very ' best value possible for their money; is [anyone going to stand in the way of i This being secured merely for the igratifieation of‘ a silly, errant selfI will? The architect seems to have sub--mitted a satisfactory scheme, his idrawings were attractive; the speciifieations did not appear to have anything objectionable about. them, but ithe working details are evidently not . acceptible, or they are misunderstood. It is very obvious that owners of business premises had no conception of what. was proposed until their shops and verandah posts had the new levels adopted marked upon ‘them, and as no standard survey has been made of the town—a regrettable omission——-owners were undoubtedly entitled to take the levels for their shops from the road level hitherto acknowledged as representing what a standard survey would have rendered fixture. Without their full aequicsence it will be an exceedingly doubtful procedure to now make alteration in levels that will detriment--3“.V fl-ffect their shops from a. business view-point. or land them in any material volume of expenditure. Nobody outside of the Borough Council knew before the Work was commenefid that such considerable raising and lowering of present levels was contemplated. and up to "the presentthere is no official information available other than that contained in the mark-

ing on vcrandah posts, curbings, and walls. Had it been publicly proclaimed as news through *the'Press that the old footpath and street levels were going to be materially altered business people and ratepayers generally would have understood the circumstances, and a good deal of dissatisfaction might have been averted. We were no better informed than. other people; we did understand that the footpath in one place would be a little higher from the road than at present, requiring asmall step down, but we certainly had no idea that footpath levels were going to be altered sa as to put some shop-fronts in the air, while putting others so low as to render buildings waterlogged. Certain it is, however, that if rival factions are to usurp the place of common~sense understanding the intenests of the town will reflect. the folly, and instead of real improvement at a reasonable cost, there will be a biZal’l‘€ I'9-Slll’f, enormously increased eXpCll<li’Clll‘€, and possibly some litigation with factionsness more exaggerated and bitter. A house divided against itself in the very building is going to result in anything but a satisfactory finished structure. We suggest ‘that. Councillors should take the people whose interests they represent into their confidence, call them together, and have ‘matters exhaustively discussed. Then, when the Engineer atriveg ‘during Easter Week, there will be something definite from the ratepayers and Councillors to place before him. i Mr George Wrightson, in his practical and pointed style, has thrown expert light. upon the subject, but here again cliqueism jsxbusy at work trying to contort and frustrate ‘what. Mr Wrightson has advanced. Mr W.rightson’s views-, though somewliat robust. bear the stamp of knowledge and practicability. and they will doubtless appeal to many ratepayers. They are pervaded with good common sense, and they are accompanied with expert advice tlla‘f, in the town’s best. interests, we cannot at this stage reject. The Engineer and those in full possession of his intentions. may see the prospect as clear as day, but others cannot. For instance, if the footpaths and road are raised high enough to convert the triangle in front. of the Post Office into a lily pond, will not the already steep grade from the triangle to Capill"s house be dangerously accentuated‘? Such non’senso as that at'tributed't.o the Mayor had better been left! unsaid. when footpaths are made they will be continuous, threats about leaving‘ any intermissions because owners object to the Mayoral will are not creditable to whoever may utter them. It is the blud-geon faculty that causes most. "rrouble, loss, and inconvenience; if the £17,000 the ratepayers have made themselves responsible for are to be spent to the best advantage in every respect, the effort to saddle any particular party or person with the fault musk‘. be abandoned’. All that factionsness does disclose is that there is some fault to cavil about. Mr \7Vrighi'— son’s criticism_ is_ ~directly to the point, it is :1 fea.l-loss discussion of the questiomwhicli is sure to prove helpful, and if ot.llel's--. will fairly—- and intelligently» place their views before

ratepayers, our coumns are at their disposal for the purpaso. As matfcrs now stand Mr \Vrightson’s advice should be followed and work sfopped until 1':1top:1_V01'g and shopkeepers. are able to express an opinion on the infol'ma’tiou that has just been sprllng‘ upon 'thcm.