The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1914. THE COASTAL RAILWAY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 278, 25 April 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1914. THE COASTAL RAILWA Y.

The reply given b) Public Works to the rcpres, imputation that waited upon him yesterday regarding the proposed coastal railway was eminently satisfactory. Mr. Fraser definitely promised to assist in framing and passing a special Bill under which the districts concerned may form themselves into a railway district and be accorded the same borrowing powers as, say, a harbor board, and build, equip and run the railway. Tlu<3 is what has been all along desired. For the Government to undertake the work would, it was felt, entail an indefinite period of waiting, good as the prospects of the line undoubtedly are, and urgent as the need for its construction b. Last year the, Minister agreed to pro. ride the necessary facilities, and accordingly amended the Railways Construction and Lands Act, but, as was I so ably and forcibly pointed, out yesterday, the powers in the Act are quite inadequate for the purpose so far as this •district is concerned, owing to the special conditions obtaining, a separate Bill being required. Mr. Fraser was very fair and frank, and promised to do everything in his power to facilitate tie settlers helping themselves in the matter, even going the length of saying that he was prepared' to spend a week of his time with representatives of the district in settling the points of the Bill, and then, with the concurrence of the Prime Minister, pushing the Bill through Parliament in the early part of the session, In the matter of guaranteeing the loan that will have to be raised for the building of the line, which will mean a saving of anything from % to 1% per cent., hf> intimated that if power does not already exist for the State to guarantee the loan, then hewould have that power provided. The settlers do not want anything more than this. They only desire to help themselves. It says much for the Minister's sense of justice and his grasp and appreciation of the conditions that J make the building of the line an imperative necessity that he should not' only permit them to so help themselves, but to facilitate their desire in every way possible, whatever inconvenience it may personally cause him. We are sure the settlers and the public generally will appreciate his help and consideration. Mr. Fraser has made a very good impression during his all too short visit to Northern Taranaki, and we feel sure his trip will result in mutual benefit in many directions. We are also certain that he will translate his promises into actions, and in respect of the coastal railway it may be taken for granted that the promoters will not allow any grass to grow under their feet. Yesterday's proceedings represented a marked step forward. There is a good deal of preliminary work to be done, but that it will be cheerfully borne and successfully and expeditiously carried fifrough we have no doubt. With the Bill through the House, the starting of actual work should be within measurable distance.

THE TOWN'S SANITATION. Ihe Borough Council came in for a warm time at the hands of the Hospital Board on Wednesday over the strictures passed on the sanitary inspector for alleged negligence of duty whilst carrying out tfie work of the Council. The chairman defended Mr. Kendall in a speech of much spirit and force, and was strongly backed up by other members. We are not certain but that the Council deserved the castigation it received. It looks, from what was said at the meeting, and also at the Council tabic previously, tliat the Council was endeavouring to matce a scapegoat of someone in connection with the state of things that has resulted in disease epidemics breaking out at both ends of the town, and had fastened on Mr. Kendall. That gentleman's explanations, however, throws a different .and a new light upon the subject. He shows that he had repeatedly made suggestions to the Council for the sanitary improvement of the town, but that tliey 'had not been acted upon. He goes further, and states that the Council had suppressed from his reports references to the insanitary conditions obtaining* in different portions of the town. He alludes specifically to the water supply, the state of the public baths, the condition of rubbish depots, etc. He savs he has also made reports that have not so 'far been satisfactorily dealt with. These comprise the Post Office oonVcniencea, the Mangatuku stream, stables, rubbish collection, etc. Mr. Kendall also ■makes the interesting statement thai "from time ti> time there had reached him subterranean information directly and indirectly from certain then members of the Council that his services were required with a vi»w to relieving the Council of imaginary moral obligations to keep certain pledges made to certain districts which later merged In the borough." Here is snmetlw'ng for the Council to answer ami explain. The Mayor's i-aply was quite inadequate. The position calls fur a fuller and franker statement. The Council, it

would seem, has been dodging its rtsponsibilitics in a matter of such vita) importance as the preservation ol the health of the community. It has known all about the festering spots right in the town and the suburbs and hag been unwilling, or afraid, to take action, and remove them. No wonder the Hospital Board members should have been moved to designate the Council "a spineless body." The Council has even gone to the length of suppressing references to certain matters mentioned in the Health Officer's report. Why? Is it a proper or desirable thing that the public should be kept in ignorance of something menacing their health, perhaps their lives! The public health is too important a matter to trifle with. No steps should be too great nor the cost too heavy to safeguard the health of the town.. Indeed, this should be the Council's first consideration. This practics of suppressing reports on so vital a matter is one that cannot be too strongly condemned, and we hope it will never occur again. As for the outbreaks of disease in the suburbs, the Council knew long ago of the existence of the causes, but never acted, it having been left to others to take stringent measures, after the outbreaks occurred, to | minimise the effect as much as possible. Now, of course, the Council has realised its duty, and arranged for a report from its engineer on the question uf draining the areas concerned, and effecting much needed sanitary improvements. It is certain that something will also hare/to be done in the way of diverting the course of the Mangatuku stream, which seems to be a veritable breeding ground for disease, as will have been gathered from the report of an inspeection by our representative, appearing yesterday. The Council has a duty to parform in these matters, and it should do so regardless of consequences.

"PARK SATURDAY." H is questionable whether our Pukekura Park Board is sufficiently aggressive in the matter of soliciting financial assistance from the people. One appeal annually is made, by means of "Park Saturday" collections, and "Park Saturday" for 1914 arrives to-day. The contributors can depend upon their money being put to good use; in fact, one of the most striking features of the administration of *he most beautiful park in the Southern Hemisphere, and one of the most deligjlitful pieces of man-help-ed natural beauty in the world is that the Board manages to do so much with such small revenue. The state of the Park is undoubtedly a credit to the talented gentleman iij chaTge of it. The balance-Sheet for the financial year just ended is not yet available, but from that of 1913 is gleaned the information tliat wages cost only £245 3s, and of this £IBO went to the permanent staff, while the hosts' of water-fowl were fed for a little over £4. The Board couid spend much more money to very groat advantage. Some of the beauties of the Park remain to he developed. This staff is far too Bmall, but the Board, on its slender means, cannot afford to bring it up to the required standard, its total revenue for 1913 having been only £276 odd, of which £l5O cinne from the borough subsidy. New Plymouth people are pardonably proud of (/heir Park. But what help is .forthcoming from the average citizen! He is prepared to enjoy its shady walks and sylvan glades, and to leave the business of maintaining them to "the other fellow." We hope that to-day the people will remove this reflection upon their" lovo of the beautiful, and make 'Park Saturday a success. We must confess that we would like to gee a little more life infused into .the arrangements for the annual collections, the; work seeming to fall upon the secretary and a little band of devoted women. There is no reason why the members of the Board should not get busy themselves, and also promote, say, an annual Park fete, whjch, properly run, Bhould prove one | of the most popular, successful and profitable fixtures that could be arranged. By its means and with the Park Saturday, the Board should be lifted from its state of chronic impecuniosity and be enabled to effect further improvements in one of New Zealand's greatest scenic heritages.