THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1910. AN IMPORTANT MUNICIPAL QUESTION.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9683, 6 January 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. THURSDAY, JANUARY 6, 1910. AN IMPORTANT MUNICIPAL QUESTION.

A question of considerable importance cropped up once more at the last meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, when certain plans for the erection of houses on what is • known as the Solway estate came before the Council for approval. The plans were of substantial houses, of a somewhat pretentious character, and such as the public like to see being built in Masterton, evidencing as such buildings do both prosperity and progress. The plans, however, did not go through, as they were presented, and the real reason thereof is the limited area over which the Borough drainage system -extends. Septic tanks were provided for in the plans under notice, and these the Council would not permit to be installed. It was stated that such a drainage system is contrary to a Borough by-law, and consequently, the position was taken up by the Council that it would be contrary to its own by-law to allow the installations proposed. Technically, the decision of the Council may have been correct enough, but the question is one that requires to be settled in an eminently practical manner. Tho present drainage system covers but a limited area, and the possibility of that system beiner extended until a good many years have passed is remote indeed, and so far as the particular district mentioned, viz., Solway, being connected with a drainage system, the period is likely to be even longer.

What then should be done? The preliminary answer to the question is that the Borough Council should be willing to agree to any system of drainage that is of a sanitary char, acter.' It is not to be supposed that

substantial houses will be continued to be erected without the drainage area, if some system of drainage cannot be devised for them. It is argued by some people that the septic tank principle is insanitary. If the Borough Council believes this to be the case it should satisfy itself that its belief is well founded, and assuming that after thorough investigation it does come to the conclusion that septic tanks are insanitary and a menaoe to public health, then there are a large number of septic tanks in the Borough, which the Council should remove without delay. It is idle to say that the Council cannot prevent septic tanks from being used because it has permitted them to be installed. The cause of public health brooks no excuses, and men who are earnest in their endeavours to preserve public health will not flinch from the performance of their dutj ies, however personally unpleasant the performing of those duties may be. The Borough Council may safely place its by-law on one side, and take a sound, broad, practical, and . permanent view of the situation. A . septic tank is either sanitary or in- ■ sanitary.

If the Council declares that , it is a sanitary method of disposing of SBwage then itmustgrait the applications that have been made; if it is proved that fie system is insanitary then it is the bounden dut\ of the Mayor • and Council to turn their attention to the sfptic tanks already in existtnee. The question is not one that admits of trifling. In a question of this kind the Council must know its own mind, and then deal fairly, firmly and consistently by the public. Unless it can be shown what septic tanks are insanitary, we are certainly of opinion that the applications should be granted upjn the owners of the houses agreeing to connect them with the drainage system when it is extended to their locality. If the septic tank principle is insanitary, then, perhaps, some other system can be advanced that the Council will approve of. As matters stand at present, there is considerable reason for dissatisfaction. The drainage area is decidedly limited, and outside of it there are those who wish to build houses, and to have all appointments connected with them effected in conformity with modern and decent principles. Assuming that the Council has power—which we very much doubt—to decline to allow any private drainage system to be installed, one can see in such a decision not only inconvenience and dissatisfaction to ratepayers, but a detri • mental effect upon the building trade. As we have indicated, the Council must consider what is its duty in a very serious manner —and in doing so it must review the whole position, and if it comes to the conclusion that it cannot allow the installation oE septic tanks, then it will assuredly have to turn its attention to past decisions, and consider how far it can redeem the evil that it has wrought.