THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1907. DAWDLING WITH DANGER.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8863, 24 October 1907, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1907. DAWDLING WITH DANGER.

The views which, the Mayor has given expression to, through the medium of the Press, orf the all-important question of drainage, compel attention and criticism. It is more than three months ago since the Borough Council decided that it was necessary that steps should be taken to place a scheme for the extension of drainage before the ratepayers, and to-day the Mayor declares that "it must be obvious to every intelligent citizen that a comprehensive drainage scheme is required in the Borough." Yet, in spite of the resolution of July 2nd, and the most recent utterance of the Mayor, nothing has been done, and, it appears, nothing is to be done except, perhaps, in the distant future. We are to submit to the "taihoa" policy of the Council, and see our townsfolk scourged with epidemic diseases, because the Municipal authorities haven't the courage to place a definite scheme before the ratepayers. The excuse for this inaction on the part of the Council, as submitted by his Worship, is remarkable only for its absurdity. He says to his interviewer that it is "obvious that just at this juncture very little can be done, and that as for startingright away with some huge scheme of drainage reform, the proposition • is not feasible." What does the I Mayor call "starting right away?" Has he not long since had authority to take the requisite preliminary steps? And what excuse has he to offer for not having done so long ago? Well, his answer to that appears lo be that "the Council of late has had its hands full enough of work"; and he plaintively adds: "half of my year has gone, and what new work has been done?" That is just what the ratepayers are asking, and before long they will demand the reason why the Mayor has to reply to his own query with a significant "None!" At the rate the Municipal authorities are pro-

gressing the whole of the Mayoral year will be gone and still nothing 5 even attempted. "We have been having a washing-up of old matters," says his Worship. In what, has this washing-up consisted? Mainly in; making a mess of things generally. The council has been busy in "swopping horses while crossing the stream." It has got rid of its two most competent officers at the most critical juncture, and has placed itself in the position of a ship that has to rig up a jury-rudc!er in the place of the genuine one which has carried away. But even in these circmstances there has been nothingto prevent the Mayor from giving effect to thcs resolution of the Council to place the position in connection with drainage before the ratepayers. Certainly the visit to the Mayoral office on one day r or any number of days, of "half a dozen Borough officials" is not a sufficient excuse for the delay. There is not much in the contention ■ that the water supply "is a momentous question" that has to be considered in conjunction with the drainage extension scheme. Expert evidence is adducible to show that by the expenditure of two or three hundred pounds not only can the present systerr be made equal to the needs of tho townspeople for ordinary domestic and commercial purposes, but also to the greater demands of an extended, drainage system. The Mayor is of opinion, if he is correctly reported, that the water supply is inadequate and demands attention. That being so there is still less excuse for inertness; but he nonchalantly tells his interviewer that "when time availed he would give the matter his closest attention, but just now he was literally swamped with Borough work of other kinds!" Is attention by the Mayor to routine work to be permitted to entirely distract his attention from questions of vital importance to the townspeople? Are the residents to sit calmly down and see matters of great moment —matters that may affect health or life —overlooked because, forsooth, the Mayor has to attend to the routine of office? Will the ratepayers stand this? We think not. The drainage system is inadequate, the septic tank is a sdurce of pollution to water and soil for many acres around; and the longer the present conditions continue the greater and graver will become the danger.. If the Mayor really thinks the water supply has to be considered together the drainage scheme, let him and the council face the position boldly, and at once tell the ratepayers and burgesses what they are to expect, and wnat they' must do. There will, we think, be no inertness or hesitancy on their part as to what should be done or when it should be done.