SECOND EDITION Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1874.] TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1894. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4822, 11 September 1894, Page 2

SECOND EDITION Wairarapa Daily Times. [ESTABLISHED 1874.] TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 1894. THE MUNICIPAL ELECTION.

Ox a former occasion a proposal for a water anil drainage loanwas favorably received by tho burgesses, of Masterton, and would in the opinion of many have been carried, had not too large a sum been demanded, There is no doubt that when next a proposal is submitted for the same purposes a much more moderate amount will be invited, and a much larger support be given tho project, Tho opposition to the enterprise mainly comes from the outer ward, and it is scarcely a reasonable one. Farms in this ward have grown in valuo with the growth and development of the town, and the owners of them,while accepting the benefit derived from the position of their properties, are averso to contributing a sixpence towards tho development of the centre which makes their future, A settler whose land, if there were no town in its immediate vicinity woHld be worth ton pounds an acre finds that it is worth forty and displays his gratitude by voting ngainsf; all improvements, although they must indirectly benefit him. In the case of a water supply tho opposition in the outer ward is only intelligible on the supposition that the settlers fail to understand the proposal. In the first place they are exempted from tho water rate which follows the sorvice pipe, and in the event of a special rating district being arranged they may not be even parties to tho guarantee of the construction.' loan, "Why thou, should they take up the position of a dog in the manger and say becauso they don't want water tho cpiifre of the townshall nothavoit. If a water supply touched-theirpocketsor were likely to do so thoy would be justified incop6idoriiigtheirowninterests,aiul if they were too heavily taxed under it, to oppose the project. But ivhen it is intended to cany out the enterprise in such a way that not a single sixpence will be required from them either directly or indirectly, they ought to refrain from all opposition to tho necessary improvements dpminded by the centre of the town, Tho moneyrequired to pay interest on a water loan will come from the water rate which follows the service of the pipes, it will be a reasonable paymentfor an adequate supply of water for drinking, washing, irrigation; protection against tire, and for machihe power, and'in very many iijstaiices the saving in fire insurance premiuiiie will recoup IWfats $r jfcii'eir ejss outjay for the wator.rate, .W.o have made a calculation, as tq ' ; 'Jipjv much wo should have to pay for wator, and we find that tho sum is less than tho amount we sbouldsave by the reduction of our fire insurance jpemiunis. Any ratepayer can make f' "similar: jjjflcnlation for himself as tho water'.'rale jslgdunder.tlic Municipal Corporation Act; and the reduction iufireinsura'nce premiums Van' be put down safely 'at 25 per (je.#. -In the .'present: Municipal jHllj having a duol'egartVto other considerations, try and giye'a lift to &'?fll9Pu™ouTO

improvements on which ,tftehoalth amlwealth of the town depend. We desire to seiS the Borough Council more friendly 1 in the future towards watep and drainage than it has beon in the past. But for. this unfriendHhess on the part of two or. three respected members'of the Council, who did all they could to throttle the proposal wliich they put before the burgesses, it would have been carlied. We hope to seo a modified proposal adopted during the coining year, but this depends vory much upon the result of the present elec-, tioii. Tho thing has to come, and if only the obstructionists would help to thresh out a practicable' and sensible scheme, they would do more good for the town than by simply putting their foot down and crushing every proposal, whether it be good, or bad,