"MARK TIME!"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 252, 19 July 1920, Page 6

"MARK TIME!"

■ s CITY AFFAIRS

NOTHING MUCH DOING-WHY? . 'y (By "Civia.") Wellington city, from a municipal point of view, is marking time, and' ns such stagnation is not possible without retrogression it is a'case of "two paces to the rear. Probably never in the history of Wellington lmvo tho expenses of administration been so heavy, while so little work is being done. WJieti questioned recently about tho overdue revival of his prwvnv schedule of progressive works, Luke said that the .council could do nothing until Mr. Lawrence Birks had reported on tho jjo.werhouso'problem, yet when tho question of tho site of the proposed new' station cropped up at a council meeting Mr. Luke interjected' that the point was out of order, as the sito had already been agreed upon. This is all rather puzzling, for if a si'lo (at the head of Evans Bay) has been agreed upon, it follows that, a new steam-driven plant to stand on it has been agreed upon. What, therefore, is fclie value of a report from Mr. Birks on the .matter? Why should anyone bo employed to report on something tho council ha? already agTeed upon—and to pursue the subject further, why should the council delay in putting the issue before the electors when Mr. Birks's report is not to affect fundamentals?

As a matter of fact, a scheme for meeting the city's electrical requirements until tho hydro-elec/trlc power comes nlong was definitely fixed and re--1 ported upon'by Me.ssrs. G. Lauchlnn and M. Cable (which report was agreed to by the council) before Mr. Morton went Home last year. But everyone, apparently, had forgotten that such was tho case until the recent controversy necessitated some research work.

What Can Mr; Birks Say? -After all that litis been said- by Mr. Evan Parry, by Mr. Lauchlan, by Mr. <Ja.ble, by Mr. Morton, and by Mr. Litko and the Progressive League, what; is left for Mr. Birks to say in l the report ho is about to furnish the council? Ho ■will probably remember that, his former chief, Mr.. Parry, reported that the Mercer. Street station plant would form an adequate standby for the hydroelectric supply, and that the Mangahao scheme would be quite able to furnish Wellington with all the power needed for years to come, so if Mr. Birkß attempts to justify tho Evans Bay proposal the ratepayers will have to judge between the opinions of two authorities —Mr. Parrv on the one hand, and Mr. Birks on the other. . 'IVliht Mr. Birks nnglilt do (this would be of real service) is to pive the citizens a clear idea of tho present-day cost of/'snch a plant as it ls'proposed to install at Evans Bay. Figures are so divergent and markete fo jumpy on this point that Mr.„ Birk's, possibly wKh the assistance of Sir Arnold ■ Gridley, might be able to throw some useful light on the capital cost of the Miramar venture. Seeing that ths Mayor says the council has settled everything oke, this is one point on which the Government hydro-electric engineer might expatiate. Ho might- also show in cost in handling coal nt V/ellington and at Miramar, data for which could be obtained from tho Gas Company and 'the. AVatorsido Workers' Union.

Orongorongo,

Not having heard recently from the Orongorongo front, I. assume that Mr. Sample (after his spell in town during tho miners' conference) -has returned to Arcadia to mark time—no, I mean to make tracks—until such, time as .Itho ratepayers at tho poll say "Got a. movo on." But what will happen to ; Mr. Semple and his mates if the ratepayers -a.ro not complaisant enough to vote for expenditure on the big hnnol? Fcrish the thought!

Our Decaying'-Wood-blocks, ''Look out! Tou'r? covered in mud!" It was one pedestrian speaking -to another in Willis Street. A big car had passed over some.-loose blocks near the side-channel, and a stream of muddy water was projected on .to tliQ footpath, and some people who were using it. The-e eoft sections in our wood-blocked pavoments aro getting increasingly numerous, as the winter rains cause decay of the luitarred blocks. The secret history of 'inr in Wellington during tho last lour years would inako interesting reading, and it would have a distinct and direct bearing on the wretchcd 6tate of tho wood-blocked streets we wero so proud of ten years ago. " They are no longer an object of pride. Small gangs of men may be seen picking up' the blocks in the bad places, chipping and relaying them, but' that Is merely makeshift work. To preservo wood-blocks tlicy must be kept as nearly watertight as possible, and the one thing which ensures preservation ,is tor—tho essential Our streets have been deprived of for two or three years past. It is folly to neglect tarring wood-blocks for even one year. One thixigf-' hinges on another in civic administration, and if there is neglect here, it is going to cau6o work there. Our water-logged wood-blocks may very easily coat tho City Council .£IO,OOO before it knows' where it is— spoiling tho ship for a ha'porth of tar!