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Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 233, 30 March 1912, Page 4

THE BOROUGH'S " KICK." If the notices of motion that have been given can be taken as an index of their feelings, the local Borough Council ii just now feeling very sore with St. Aubyn town district over its decision on Tuesday. The water and electric lighting charges, it is proposed, shall be increased, no further water connections made in the town district, and a charge of Is per cubic .yard levied on all metal required by St. Aubyn carted over the borough roads. We hope councillors will ponder over these proposals very carefully before giving effect to them. Pique and resentment are written over them all. The borough representatives should rise above such unworthy and petty feelings. Naturally councillors feel disappointed with the unreasonable, short-sighted and retrogressive attitude adopted by the town district—all having the interests of the district at heart share that disappointment—but that in our mind is no reason why the Borough Council should be equally unreasonable and threaten their neighbors with swift and heavy reprisals. We do not like the spirit of vindictiveness. It should never be allowed to rear its head. If it is, the public life of this community is in the near future going to severely suffer. No one can reasonably object to a slight increase in the charges for the services the borough renders the town district. The borough, as a matter of fact, has been altogether too liberal in the past in the matter of these charges, seeing that the borough is saddled with all the liability. That the charges have not been disturbed is due to the expectation that when the question was placed before them the suburbs would join the borough. St. Aubyn has been misguided enough to reject the proposal, and must, and probably does, expect an increase. But there is reason in all things. The suggestion to levy a Is per yard on gravel passing over borough roads is iniquitous and should not be tolerated by a self-respecting community. It is not a fair deal, and cannot be justified by any circumstances. The proposal to alter the route of the proposed tramline iswhat was to be expected. The residents of St. Aubyn knew the position in regard to the trams before the poll was taken, so they cannot complain if the new scheme does not touch their territory. In regard to the notices of motion, however, we hope councillors will not act too hastily and in a manner that they may regret subsequently.