OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 December 1939, Page 4

OTHER PEOPLE’S IDEAS

THIS LACK OF WATER (To the Editor.) Sii - ,—To repeat a truism, we can live three minutes without air, three days without water and three weeks without food. As the distribution of the aitsupply does not depend on the whim of any human authority, it is a selfevident fact that water is, without exception, the most important thing that has to be dealt with by the powers that be, in any community. No sane person upholds those who waste waler or anything else in times of emergency and no right-minded citizen can take any justifiable pride in flourishing gardens and lawns if water is in short supply for immediate human needs. But are we in Masterion always to live, as regards water, as though we were in a besieged city? In a reputedly well watered land should a community which asks for an adequate water supply be offered a stone in the shape of £lO,OOO worth of meters? There should be sufficient water for al! purposes including gardens, hosing down of outside walls of houses, washing the streets and anything else it is wanted for in the hottest weather. Fruit and vegetables would then be more plentiful and of better quality, flowers would add to the joy of life instead of giving the authorities a pain for fear someone had been "wasting the water.” Everyone would be healthier and happier instead of being disgruntled and suspicious of his neighbour using a little extra water to which as human beings we are all entitled if we see to it that first things are put first. If there are many other communities in New Zealand suffering this recurring bugbear of water shortage every summer, it is time the Government made it illegal for any local body to have the privilege of contributing a penny to art galleries, libraries, beautifying societies or anything of the kind until it has provided its people with a pure and adequate water supply. Any thinking person knows that the foregoing amenities are also necessities to a progressive people,\but their progressiveness is open to question if that which is of such vital importance as a good water supply is not put first. As things are al present, it is plainly the duty of us all locally Io obey Die orders restricting hosings, etc. Thanking you, Sir. and concluding with Masterton’s slogan,— “DON’T WASTE THE WATER." Masterton, December 1.