BUYING REPORTS

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2465, 1 April 1909, Page 3

BUYING REPORTS

[To Tiie Editor.]

Sir,—As a ratepayer of tlie town of Gisborne, and having taken a great deal of interest in the many “proposed schemes” for bettering the town, I think that it is about time some publicspirited mail in our Borough Council and Harbor Board should, for the public information, move: — First in the Borough Council, —That a return be laid on the table of the Council, say for the past eight years, showing: (1) The number of professional men who have been requested by tlie Council (ratepayers’ representatives) to report on the Ssanitary conditions, metalling and water supply, and anything appertaiing to. “the proposed” progress of the. town of Gsborne; (2) that the return sets out each fee.paid to each professional man by the Council (ratepayers); (3) how many reports have been made, and adopted by the Councils (representing the people for the past eight years) after having been paid for ?; (4). and generally any fees paid for any information whatsoever out of the ratepayers’ monies. Secondly, the Harbor Board.—That a return be laid on the table of the Harbor Board showing all professional fees which have been paid to each person for professional advice on harbor and river construction, in fact .anything appertaining to opinions sought by the Board for “the proposed” betterment of the port. Ratepayers must surely agree that it is distressing to .hear the war cry of members of the. Borough Council and Harbor Board that no money is available for this work or that;and yet enormous fees are paid away for all kinds of reports ordered by the aforesaid respective, bodies, and then, ye gods! condemned by those who have no knowledge whatever of the subject matter, and the same thing goes on, opinion after opinion is obtained, with the same result. Mr. Editor, Gisborne is keeping half the professional men, engineers general, in the Dominion employed. Tlie reports when received seem to be put into the waste paper basket, as none of them, with the exception of the Aral water, supply—which, by the way, is undoubtedly a success —have ever been acted upon, after paying away the ratepayers’ money in obtaining them. Y T ou have only to read reports in outside papers to see how Gisborne is progressing from a sanitary point of view, with typhoid fever, and the splendid name "it bears. This advertisement must, indeed, he edifying to those who obtain reports for the betterment of the town and then don’t use them. Mr. Editor, the present Council will no doubt ask the ratepayers to return them to power, with the usual oration. “Look what we have done for you.” Dr. Mason, Health Officer, will bear out that assertion, and tlie ratepayers no doubt, will judge for themselves. TVhilc writing I would also draw your attention tothe fact that another £6O is proposed to be soent on a report, according to the Mayor. It is useless talking so much, and I regret the length of my letter, hut mv only hope as a ratepayer is that the burgesses show their appreciation this month of the doings of G sb'orne’s guarding angels by putting in a new* head and body, who will get something in return for money spent, and use the information obtained from professional men for the benefit of Gisborne. Lastly. I think the information asked for should be supplied to the public of Gisborne. —I am, etc., “RATEPAYER.”