THE RATEPAYERS AND THE DOMAIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXII, Issue 6623, 17 July 1905, Page 2

THE RATEPAYERS AND THE DOMAIN.

TO TUB EDITOR.

Sir,—l was uiuoh surprised to see a le 1 tar signed "'Ratepayers by the cl.izau" in your columns on Saturday evening. 1 think a person who is fool enough to m.dre ovroneon;s assertions of the nature contained in that letter should be compelled to sign his name. Ho cooly asserts that the present curator is unequal to tho task of landscape gardening, and points out that W.VV.S, was a marvel in this irrspcct. Does your correspondent know what landscape gardening is ?" Does ha know that tho present curator has spent nearly nil his tims since li^assumad charge ia raakiust affee'oiva ani iui proved landscape vie'*s? I hold no brief for Mr Young ; but I fwl sure tha ratapayorii are well satisfied with his managesiUM.it. W. W. S. deserved the thanks of tho Borough, for what he did, but I consider his hist aotion in r^comaitmdin<r Mr Young as his succegs'T wa,3 his orowuiuK act as far as his' services to the ratepayers are concerned. ITe aoßt of running the Domain ia not wholly borne by the ratepayers of the borough. The Sports Association contributes £100 anually, and the County Council votes a similar amount. I don't consider the allusion to pipers is worthy ©f notice ; but the ratepaj era can reßt assured that a man like the present curator is not likely to suggest the appointment of an assistant for his musical abilities. As a rule take a Scotsman in any walk of life, he iB thorough, and this 13 especially applicable to Mr Young. Is ha then likely ( to load hiraßclf with an assistant to play " The Cock o' the North," whilst ho does the manual labor? It is really pitiable to see a worthy man traduced in the way your so called " Batepayers by the Dozen" is trying to belittle Mr Young's services.—l am, etc, A Domain Ratepayer.