The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, JULY 3, 1909. A MUNICIPAL POLICY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2544, 3 July 1909, Page 4

The Gisborne Times. PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. SATURDAY, JULY 3,1909. A MUNICIPAL POLICY.

The policy which was read by ihe Mayor at last meeting of the Borough Council and which was endorsed by a majority of its members comprises a programme upon which that body can, with advantage, concentrate its efforts. There aro seme important aspects of tho policy which are open to adverse criticism, but on the. whole wo -can cordially congratulate tho Mayor and those Councilors whose -“collective wisdom” assisted in the deliberations at the Committee meeting upon the results of their efforts. The all-absorbing topic of sewerage is taken first, and here the proposals outlined appear to 4 be based on justice and commonsense. Mr Marchant’s estimate of £55,000 only provides foU bringing the sewerage system to the borders of the. footpaths, whereas it is now proposed that it should be taken right to tho boundaries of owners’ properties. This will bring the cost of the scheme, to £82,000. As we have pointed out on many occasions a good deal remains to be done after the sewerage connections have been carried this far. Tho pipes bare to be conveyed to the rear portion of houses and tho distance is so great in some cases that the cost of the pipes will be very heavy. Then comes the installation of flush closets, baths and sinks, so that the total expense to the property owner may run anywhere from £ls to £3O. To meet this situation, which is one of extreme difficulty, it is proposed that the Council shall raise a special loan of about £15,000 to enable., it to (pay the cost of these connections •'up to £1.5 in each case. •The property owner .will have To bear the burden of any cost in excess of £ls, and will be expected to repay his share of the loan at the rate ■of £3 per annum for five years. This certainly seems the best method for dealing with the .most troublesome aspect of the sewerage question. Whilst on this topic we must express our disappointment that no .provision appears to have, been 'made for the disposition of storm water, which, it must not be forgotten, is not provided for in the sewerage scheme.

In regard to a street loan the statement stipulates that this should be for the purpose of improving every street in the Borough. This is a very laudable ideal, hut when it is likewise urged that the amount of the loan should be restricted to £40,000, a complicating issue is introduced. Tho question at once arises: Can the whole of tho streets in the Borough be treated with permanent work for the sum mentioned? Frankly speaking, we doubt it, but as the Mayor has at last recognised the necessity- of consulting a qualified engineer on the estimates we shall be content t-o await the receipt of expert opinion. We should have liked a definite pronouncement from the Mayor that lie would not endeavor to promote the raising of a lean for anything save permanent work for, badly as we want improved roads, we have no right to shirk our moral obligations by asking posterity to pay for some : thing which can only benefit ourselves. The Mayor gives his ideas clearly enough on the metal question. He proposes that tliei roads shall .be mainly constructed with Waihirere stone.as the foundation and Kaiteratahi gravel for the surface-. ’Whether this will prove; satisfactory or not is extremely problematical. Wc have long urged the advantages of Waihirere st-onc for tho side streets, hut whether the rivetshingle will stand direct contact with the Borough traffic is a matter that must- be in doubt until actual tests have been made. The result of its use on the road near Ormond township has been very satisfactory hut, although

oouraging,. this-does,not prove its,suitability for town .purposes. In the main street® it is suggested that the Wallure re stone shall, be topped with Patutahi metal and subsequently asphalted with Napier shingle. This material, under proper supervision, should provide a very fine thoroughfare. Naturally, His Worship ha® introduced his latest (project, the obtainment of metal from Gentle Annie Quarry by carriage in Straker waggons, and he proposes that the Council v should .purchase another of these cumbersome vehicles Here is a phase cf municipal policy wit] which we entirely disagree, for the Straker at present in use has proved a dismal failure in carting metal frorr Patiitahi. If metal in any substantia quantity is required either from Patutahi or Gentle Annie, it should be brought on tramways. Bofore leaving the question of streel and road making we should like to draw attention to the necessity of working to permanent levels. The Mayor docs not refer to this and the omission is £ notable one, for it lends color to tin impression that he does not propose to insist upon the new works being carried out in the only manner that car be permanently satisfactory. The lovek have been taken at considerable expense to the borough and being avail able should be utilised. Unless this i: done it is hard to see how the sewerage and drainage systems can be made entirely satisfactory. The next most important undertak ing is the completion of the l watei supply system, and we cordially approve of the proposals to establish a re servoir to ensure a continuous supply and also of the extension of the system tx localities requiring it. A bridge over th< Waimata is -another urgent necessity and for the comparatively, small cosl that would be involved the work should not be delayed a day longer than car bo avoided. His Worship wisely at taclios considerable importance to th< acquirement of recreation reserves, anc there is little-doubt that a reasonable loan for the purposes outlined by hin: would be cordially sanctioned by th( ratepayers. The statement on the whole is one which can be warmly commended ,as a basis for action by the Council, and the Mayor is to be complimented upon the readiness witt which he complied with a request thal to our minds was in itself quite unreasonable, and upon the policy he outlined. Where, however, he made a fatal mistake was to endeavor to force ii through as the fixed policy of the Council. He has done so and now rules that it cannot be departed from in any important (particular except by special resolution of the Council of which notice has previously been given. Thie proviso will be provocative of trouble and we shall be surprised if the policj matters are. not the subject of numerous notices of motion during the present Council’s term of office.