The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2S, 1907. GISBORNE CULTURE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2170, 28 August 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2S, 1907. GISBORNE CULTURE.

The correspondent who writes to us this morning on a subject that may be described as t-lie street manners of our citizens touches a very sensitive spot. The painful fact is that the criticism is justified and the onus rests upon the municipal autliorities to see that such a stigma is removed. It is true the Borough Council lias a by-law whereby expectoration on footpaths is declared to be illegal, but the regulation has, unfortunately, become a dead letter, with tlio result that the town bids fair to achieve an undesirable reputation in this respect. lii other towns of New Zealand similar bylaws are strictly enforced and to ensuro that ignorance shall not be urged as an excuse, there are notices posted up in the chief thoroughfares drawing special attention to the provision. It is probably an indication of weakness that such notices should be liecessax-y—they are certainly not an ornament to a town—but the time has not yet arrived when the common-sense of the community can bo depended upon to render such admonitions unnecessary. Just at present there are large numbers of outsiders making short visits to this town, and it would bo very much pleasanter if they could take away with them an impression, notonly of Gisborne’s prosperity, but also of the refinement of its people. If that is to be tho ease there are several matters bosides that mentioned by our correspondent, which demand attention on the part of our municipal authorities. The need for enforcement of the law against expectoration in public places does not, however, rest merely upon our regard for decency and good manners. It is well known that the greatest source ol' contamination in connection with tuberculosis is tho sputum of persons so afflicted, and Gisborne, takes sufficient risks at the-present time in regard to sanitation without adding a needless danger to tho perils attendant upon tho public health.