Evening Post. MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1914. A PLAN FOR THE BELT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 128, 1 June 1914, Page 6

Evening Post. MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1914. A PLAN FOR THE BELT

Last year the people of Wellington had opportunities t6 learn that a new plan of their property, the Town Belt, was "necessary. The Post explained to the owners that their trustees, elected for two years, were able to grant long leases of the public estate (with provision for fencing and charging) to private clubs, without notice to the general public, and thus two of the best parts of the Belt were allotted to sports bodies. We were strongly against the City Council, not because we were opposed to the allocation of certain portions of the Belt to clubs on fair terms, but because we objected to the haphazard, undemocratic methods of the Council. It is true that it was able to plead the excuse of a bad law, but duty to the general public and proper regard for just principle should have inspired the Council to bo less unjust to the community as a whole than the defective law allowed it to be. The Post's case was that general planning for the public good should precede " closer settlement " for private benefit. Who can deny the reasonableness of that argument? That is the rational line of policy in all human things if prosperity and happiness are desired. Yet that common-sense method of insuring against vain regrets and waste of money has not been duly respected in Wellington, a-s we have shown from time to time. Without reverting to examples which must be well known to older residents, ! >vc hope tv elimulats the. people to press

their representatives for that loiig-de-ferred plan. Here is a little latter-day evidence how delay can be dangerous and expensive. One of the new loan proposals i.« a road to Roseneath— and the work must spoil much of the treeplanting done recently by the municipality in that locality. Of course, we do hot mention this prospective havoc as an argument against the road, for we know that convenient routes for traffic take precedence of tree/s; but, if the Belt had been planned, as recommended year after year, some loss of money and energy could have been avoided. The City Engineer, Mr. Morton, in an interview with a Post representative several years ago, foresaw euch possibilities. He said that before any extensive planting of trees was undertaken on the Town Belt, it would be advisable to have the lines of possible road* and paths mapped out; otherwise much good work might have to be nullified. Another development which should make the people think, and act, is in regard to the green undulations of the Belt in and about Berhampore. Golfing enthusiasts say that space there can be spared for municipal links, and the pioposal appeal's to have already the good will of a number of councillors. The area desired includes the ground reserved for a nursery to supply trees for the Town Belt and other public property. Already ploughing and subsoiling hati* been done— and perhaps this money will join the growing amount lost by the lack of a plan,