BOROUGH CONTRACTS.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2884, 14 May 1878, Page 2

BOROUGH CONTRACTS.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) =

Sis,—The Mayor and Town Clerk have brought about their ears a hornet's neat. They have made a mistake this time in beginning economy at the wrong end. they have showa bad policy, bad judgment, and a want of " worldly wisdom." They have trod on the toes of that powerful engine—the Press. (Let me whisper: The energetic, shrewd, common-sense County Chairman would make co such mistake.) Let them squeeze the last cent from the widows and orphans in the shape of rates ; let them grind the working classes in dirt; let them screw the business people (if not Councillors) to the lowest possible price, and these cheating contractors send them out of existence. Bat that terrible precs—the great civiliser of the nineteenth century, the electric lumiaary that lightens the way to know ledge, ccienc?, and perfection (if such exisis). Touch it not, its name is ExceU ' sior ! Sir, lam pleased that this matter * of contract work has croped up. Some good may result from it, and, as Cr. Butt suggested, the whole question of tendering {entered into. This is but right and ! proper, and in justice to the ratepayers | and the public generally where public ! money is being spent. It is an admitted fact that contract work is ihe cheapest and most ecocomicl, of r.U work. Witness the works done by the County* where all are done by contract—with the exception where Native labour is employed ; and witness the amount of work done—*the roads they have made, and . bridges built, and all done 50 per cent, less than they could or would \ 3 done by day labour. Sir, I would like to press this subject on the Councillors, and that Cr Butt's suggestion take the foM|Uof a . resolution, and that the same be earned. This should not, and never would have been otherwise but for come interested Councillors, and if these gentlemen possess not the public spirit to retain their position in the Borough without being p: id for it in the shape of profit on goods —as Cr Bead says—let them " resign at once." Plenty more as good, and some better, to fill their vacant places.—l am, &c, Contbactob. Thames, May 14th, 1878.