THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1910. THE NORTHERN APPROACH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 9994, 15 March 1910, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. TUESDAY, MARCH 15, 1910. THE NORTHERN APPROACH.

The important nature of the work comprised in improving the Northern approach to Masterton warrants us in yet again referring to the issues realised regarding the details of construction in the scheme intended to be carried out by the Masterton County Council, with the acquiescence of the Masterton Borough Council. In a letter which appeared in our issue of yesterday, a correspondent signing himself "Ratepayer" places the position in a light in which probably many people regard it, perhaps cor rectly, perhaps not. From the outset we may remark that our correspondent has evidently been unconsciously influenced by a quite natural desire to have the work done while the powers are, so to spt?ak, j ready and willing. The same concord j has not always characterised the j deliberations of interested locai bodies when the Northern approach has been the subject of discussion, '

and it is only to be expected that because unanimity has finally been reached over such an important

matter plenty of people are pleased j < to accept whatever scheme might be I propounded, rather than risk an in- 1 definite postponement. We do not j coincide with such a view, and while > conceding to "Ratepayer" that the County Council believes that it is. adopting a right course, we cannot so freely admit—as our correspondent affirms—that the Council has "considered the question in all its bearings.'' It seems that the County Council has adopted a certain scheme, and that unreservedly and without criticism. "Ratepayer" also makes other rather confident assertions respecting vital points connected with the scheme, and the suggested alterations, which stand in the same position as the suggestions he criticises j —they need equal verification. For instance, he speaks of what would happen if the river were confined to the northern channel, and also of what the Council might confidently anticipate if the southern channe 1 alone were used In the latter case he avers that the Council would have to erect concrete embankments on either side of the stream, and that the work would be beyond the means of the County Council. "Ratepayer" may be quite correct in this, and his other contentions, but, really, we have only his word for it, and not even so far that of the County Councillros themselves. It is quite Inexplicable to us why the Mayor and Borough Council are so indifferent on the matter of the details of the scheme proposed to be carried out.

Surely it is for them to demand the information whether the very best i proposition possible is to be carried out, and whether the County Council has, seeing that it is after all only a contributory body, obtained the most expert advice available when thousands of pounds of ratepayers' money are concerned. It would be quite a proper and an appropriate thing to obtain a consulting engineer's advice on the work, as it means a great deal to the community to have this hithei-to perennial difficulty finally disposed of. We cannot agree with the somewhat popular view so naively expressed by "Ratepayer" that "all they (the Council) have to do is to put the work in hand as decided, and that right speedily," etc. This sentence in our correspondent's letter indubitably betrays the reason he and some other members of the public desire the work pushed on, and that reason has Deen explanied in our opening remarks. The coming Mayoral election might justifiably cause the question to De given prominence, as the public of Masterton and Lansdowne,particularly, assuredly want a lasting, comprehensive and sensible scheme, even if slightly more costly, and any penny-wise-pound-foolish policy abandoned. It is neyond question that concrete bridges are infinitely more desirable than wooden structures*, and this obvious fact haa been emphasised in our columns by that experienced bridge \ builder, Mr Joseph Dawson, while Mr Laing-Measun has also expressed himself similarly. Mr Donald Donald has furnished the public, through our columns, with an extract of a letter which he received through Mr Laing-Meason, touching upon other important aspects of the question, and though we are not prepared to say—for it is entirely a question for expert opinion—that we are in agreement with all the suggestions made by Mr Laing-Meason, at the same time we are firmly of opinion that it is the plain duty of the County and Borough Councils to sift the matter further than has been done up to the present.