BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 260, 13 April 1915, Page 5

BOROUGH AFFAIRS.

PRESS CRITICISM CRITICISED. THE ENGINEER EXPLAIXK At last night's meeting of the NewPlymouth Borough Council the emdneei replied at Home length to the eriticisiii levelled by our evening contemporary regarding t'jo expenditure of the £42,(100 loan. It was stated, said Mr. Skitrop, that much of the money was wasted, but no .particular case was specified. At the. present time the editor did not know the cost of the work, and was not therefore in a position to criticise. In reference to the concrete roadway in Brougham street, which, it was complained, was laid on a loose boulder formation, the boulders were put in for two -mrposes. One was to provide drainage and the other to save cement. The roadway was not laid down to test the durability of concrete, but to ascertain the cost under local conditions. To have laid it without boulders would have cost twice as much as with boulders. In reference to the pipes under the concrete, there was no likelihood of new connections being required for thirty years, by which time the mains would no doubt be laid under the footpath. In any cute it would be possible to tunnel under the roadway with the concrete'. There would be no lowering of Devon Street, which statement he did not understand. The present unsightly lump at the intersection of Devon and Brougham Streets would be removed. In reference to the surplus shingle brought to Brougham Street, the shrinking of shingle in making concrete was an unknown quantity, and it was therefore difficult to. estimate the exact amount required. He wrote, as he did not wish the ratepayers to be misled by fie article, and thus influenced in the matter of the street loan. Unless the council obtained at least £IO,OOO for laying down permanent roadway along the tramway route the position would become very serious. The streets had been starved for years and were worn out. Unless the council could see its way to spend a lot of money in laying down permanent roads there would be a reckoning day. Cr. Clarke said he thought that the article referred more to the decision of the council putting in a lot of streets that were not necessary. But he thought that exception should be taken to the strong inference in the article that the water of the Mangamahoe Stream was polluted. He considered that the writer/ over-stepped the, mark altogether. They should analyse the water before making such a statement. It was a damning statement to make with regard to the water supply of any town. •

Cr. Amlmry said an analysis showed that the water was quite as good as any other. The remarks were altogether uncalled for. Cr. Isibby said the writer was incurable. The'criticism was chronic. Two years ago the same writer said some very nice things about the gentlemen sitting around that table. Then he commenced saying nasty things, and later he howled at them. Eventually it became a howl all round, with the exception of one little body which was not worth mentioning, but which was lib) pet. In the article referred to he stated that there was a possibility of the town water supply becoming inadequate. Thia •was a ridiculous statement. The town water supply was derived from a 14-inch main, while two much larger pipes were used to supply the water for electric power.

Cr. Clarke asked Why the writer did not make all his objections at the time the various objectionable works were carried out. It was of no use waiting until the damage was done, and then complaining. The Mayor agreed.

Cr. Healy said when thoy had the museum erected they should provide accommodation in the fossil department for the editor in question. But the tinfortunate part of it was that at the present time there were some simple people who believed him. Cr. Ambury thought that the gentleman in question should be sent by the proprietors of the paper for a trip around the world to widen his outlook.

The Mayor said it was extremely unfortunate that the leader was published. Some of the work that Imd been done might have been done better, but that happened in every local body. It would be an extraordinary body that would get through a couple of yCars' work without making any mistakes. He was very sorry that at the end of two years such reflections should be cast on their work. The reflections were very uncalled for. and very unfortunate, because they were endeavoring to get capable business men on the council, and such an article would not tend to induce them to offer their services. Thoy had done their best during the past two years. All their employees were not professionals, but where necessary they had taken professional advice.

Cr. Collis remarked that most of the mistakes were made when they called in professional men to give theni advice. Cr. Clarke declared that tho editor referred to was altogether wrong to blame men who were on tho council years ago for what were now proving mistakes. They did their best, and no doubt considered at the time they wore looking a long way ahead. The article referred to had howled about the removal of certain kerbing—he did not know where, but no doubt it was some being shifted on account of. the installation of the trains. The councillors of years ago could not have known that New Plymouth would be going in for trams. The paper, instead of blaming the men should blame tho system of electing members of local bodies for such short terms. They could not possibly get a continuity of policy on a body that was elected for only two years. If the paper would devise a new method of local government instead of continually harassing members of local bodies it would do much more good. It was much easier to pull down than to build, ne was of opinion that they would never have good local body government until the present system was altered. The paper's continual pin-pricks served no good purpose. The Wellington papers did not howl when it was discovered that the streets of that city required widening. The matter then dropped.