The Daily News MONDAY, MARCH 19. BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8062, 19 March 1906, Page 2

The Daily News MONDAY, MARCH 19. BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Not for many years has so much public interest been taken in municipal matters in New Plymouth as is being evinced at the present time. At the special meeting held ou Friday evening, the public were present in large numbers and showed an intelligent interest in the proceedings. We desire at the outset to congratulate the Mayor and the four Councillors who supported him, on the stand taken to deal with business of such public importance in open Council. As for the live Councillors who voted for further " Star Chamber" practice, no doubt voted according to their own judgment, but it seems to us that their ideas are right out of sympathy with those of the ratepayers, of whom they are merely the representatives. It is to bo hoped, now that, a majority of the Council has had the courage to break away from hoary, traditional practice, that the new order of things may be maintained. Judging from the interesting nature of the discussions on Friday, it would be futile to use as an argument against opeiuneetings, that discussion might be "choked." Theie was no evidence of " choking " at the meeting under review, and Councillors appeared to express their opinions openly tind freely. So long as questions of principle only are involved, there is neither necessity nor justification for dealing with such business in committee. However, were die questions involved of a personal nature likely to offend or impair the reputations of individuals, the Council would be perfectlj within its lights in adopting another course. No such circumstances have arisen in the present case, and the Council would have been ill-advised bad they considered the complaints of the Fire Brigade othor than in open council.

Ln coming to a decision, which practically amounted to a vote of censure on the engineer, the Council followed the only course reasonably open to it. At the same time, it should be at once acknowledged that there is no question of professional incompetence involved, so far as the Borough Engineer is concerned. It it still a question of contention amongst engineers as to which system of drainage is the more effective, considered from the points of view of economy and public health. The engineer is evidently in favour of a system that is opposed to modern usage, and certainly opposed to the requirements of the New Zealand Health Department, and the by-laws of almost every town and borough in New Zealand. The weight of public and professional opinion in the colonies is on tho side of "trapped overflows," which guarantee immunity from foul sewer, gasses. Even on the score of economy, it is doubtful whether the engineer's preferment for the system he advocates, can be sustained. So far, however, as the Council was concerned in the matter, it was clearly shown there had been a serious breach of the by-laws, for which the engineer alone could be held responsible, and the Council rightly took the only course open to it. * * * *

Wb have already, on more than one occasion, expressed our opinion on the ijuestion of stall' re-organisation, and it is pleasing to note that Councillors are facing the position, unpleasant though it may be, with an evident desire to make the best of the dictates of necessity. The scheme outlined by the Mayor seems to be the one offering the best results. A saving of at least £SOO per annum would be ell'ected without, we venture to believe, impaling the efficiency of the Borough management, If, as seems probable, the Mayor is successful in having his retrenchment proposals put into operation, he will have placed the Borough in a much better position financially, than ap-' peared possible a few weeks ago. Many people will agree with Mr Dockrill, however, that there are other avenues of retrenchment than staff re-organisation. The whole position will have to be reviewed shortly, and from the indications now being afforded, Councillors are alive to the necessity of effecting economy wherever it can be shoivn to be possible.