THE WATER RACE QUESTION.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6456, 24 December 1904, Page 2

THE WATER RACE QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR,

Sir.—Those who are howling the loudest against the abolition of water race chainage rates, I observe, are mostly those who have benefited from the expenditure of County funds in other works, such as drains, bridges, or the construction of storm water channels, for which they have never paid a fraction of a rate. Now, Sir, I would like one or more of those who are yelling loudnst about the great advantage the light laud is going to get, to shew why the light land is not as much entitled to have County funds spent in bringing in water as the other parts are entitled to their drains and bridges nnd storm water channels. How many years has the dry lands settlers paid a general County rate, a great part of which has been spent in the repair aud maintenance of bridges they will never u?e and will probably never see in the whole course of their lives ? And. I contend sir, that it is only fair and just and reasonable that those who have had bridges, drains, and other County works made at the general expense to benefit their lands, should not be so selfish and greedy, but Bhouhl "do as they have been done to," and pay fchh general rate without a murmur. No County work has been of more general value and benefit than the water race system, I trust the members of the County Council will stand to their guns.— Yours, etc.,

W. J. Smith,

Seafield,