THE LICENSING ELECTION.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4374, 16 February 1909, Page 3

THE LICENSING ELECTION.

Sir, —I sincerely hope that the moderate section of the Tauranga Electors will make an effort to put a majority of moderate men on the Licensing Committee. The average prohibitionist may be, and often is, an estimable man in every way, except on the liquor trade, and on that he is a narrow minded bigot pure and simple. Now it does not matter a jot to most of us whether the Te Aroha Hotels close at 10 or 11, but it does matter a good deal to all of us who are interested in the Show and the Races. The prohibition party will, if they can possibly do it, refuse conditional licenses for Show and Races. Fancy a Show or Face Meeting without a booth —fancy not been able to get a cool shandy on a hot day in summer. Fancy Hamlet without Hamlet. —I am etc., Mod e rat f.

[To the Editor.]

Sir, —Asa settler who has ever taken a thoughtful interest in the proceeding- 1 of the various corporate bodies within the range of my comment. I have ever taken special interest in the ] roceedings and workings of the Piako County Council, and in consequence am somewhat.amusing over the deadlock that has sprung into existence through the decision of the present chairman of the Piako County Council. That the body he controls, cannot render any pecuniary assistance to the Wa ; toa Drainage Board, in the works it propc-es to undertake After tli' l whole subject had been all but conclusively settled by the late chairman of the Piako County Council, The whole trouble has arisen through the tenderings of the two gpntlemen concerned. The first would decide in equity, the other in law. ith your concurrence by affording space in your paper for my reasoning, I will elucidate the difference between the two cases. The Piako County Council in consideration of a definite sum engage to make certain mileage of roads in a defined area. The first, an absolute uecessity to be seen to and done before the roads can by t any means be be made, is to remove all the water from the surface, the area under beirg all low-lying. The owners of the land in the district propose to carry out a comprehensive and expensive system of drainage, that would drain the whole area, including the various strips of land to be utilised as roads. This comprehensive purpose of drainage, would be altogether beyoud the resources of the Piako Count}' Council, therefore the last Chairman was willing to contribute towards the expense of it, from the fnnds of the County, from the simple fact, he r< cognised the Drainage Boa? d would take a lot of trouble and outlay out of their hands, This he would hive done in a spirit of equity, or a common, ordinary, just business proceeding That gentleman resigns, and his successor takes the legal side of the matter, which implies or defines that the Council being a body of tiustees of public funds, can only expend monies on works, they themselves undertake. Possibly, legally, he is right in his decision, yet it seems positive the Council could not carry out the works before them, without monetary assistance from somewhere, and if such assistance comes from the owners of the land interested, the only way I can see out of the I difficulty would be, for the Council to adopt such portions of the drainage plans as would bear directly upon their requirements. Call tenders for the work, on consideration that the Waitoa Drainage Board contribute out of their own funds a certain proportion of the whole expense. A course I think for which numbers of precedents can or could be found. —I am, etc..

H. J. Hawkins.