NEW BRIGHTON RESERVES.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15939, 28 June 1917, Page 4

NEW BRIGHTON RESERVES.

TO THE EDITOR OF "TUE PBKSS." Sir, —I am very sorry if I did "the Mayor of New Brighton an injustice m the comments I made upon tho suddenness with which he resuscitated the proposals to alienate the best portion of the Beach Reserve. Like tho majority of the ratepayers, I did not attend his meetings, but I rea-d carefully' tho election address in which ho placed his policy before us, and wluch he took tho trouble to forward to our homos, but I found there no hint that he was going to spring this surprise upon us. Mr Kibblewhito might know that if he had declared such intentions ho would have been assured of a record attendance at his meetings. 1 shall be glad to know if ho can refer me to any report of his addresses which contains a statement of his proposal. I still think that the interpretation I placed upon tho expressions he used in his interview with your representative is the obvious one. Mr Kibblewhito said ho "would rather bo tho most unpopular man in tho borough than occupy the Mayoral chair and take up a passive attitude." What is the plain meaning of this but that Mr Kibblewhito as Mayor intended to do things even if tho people did not like them? However, I am relieved to find this interpretation is not that which Mr Kibblewhite wished to be placcd upon his works. I am genuinely not to misunderstand Mr Kibblowliite, but there is another statement about which I should bo glad to have further explanation. Tho Mayor says ho lies "never given the slightest hint that this schemo was to relievo the rates, but rather the reverse; it. was to help the rates on the one hand and to provide" endowment. If Mr Kibblewhito tolls

I tlto ordinary ratepayer that lio is. going | to "help"' iiis rates ho will understand | him to mean that he is going to lessen his rates. Does Mr j\.i»blcwhitc wish u* to understand that liis echemo will not lessen the rates in any way? The Mayor eocs on-to say that there is 110 income -at present with wliieh to improve the foreshore, esplanade, and reserves. May I remind turn that his predecessors have found ways and j means in recent years to effect very j considerable improvements without encroaching unon the valuable trust left to thom, and I hope he will bo content to follow their example. Has it not occurred to him that_ thero is one glaring injustice lie might try to remedy:" To the upkeep of the Chnsttchurch Domain New Brighton rate'payers are required to contribute annually a considerable sum and yet from year's t'nd to year's end few of them ever spend an hour there. On the other hand thousands of people from all tho eounti v round spend many a delightful day at Brighton. :md vet the borough receives no contribution from tliem "towards its conveniences and' improvements. If Mr Kibblewhite will exeieise his activity in righting this injustico evervnne will have reason to be grateful. 'For this, the interests of New Brighton and or Christchurch are so closely related that we must look forward at no distant date to the union of these municipalities. This is another important tas-k, altogether in the lino of progress, that might well engage the Mayor's attention. I trust that this "practical constructive criticism" will appeal to Mr Kibblewhite. —Yours, etc... JOHN IT. HOWKLL. Cbristcliurch, Juno -Jth, 1917.