CITY ADMINISTRATION

Evening Post, Volume 50, Issue 50, 27 August 1926, Page 4

CITY ADMINISTRATION

J. D. SIEVWRIGHT.

(To thf Editor.)

Sir, —It is a matter for regret, perhaps, that anyone should have to disagree with another upon a question of policy affecting the administration of Wellington City. Mr. Stuart Wilson is anxious that ratepayers should wako up. How much jnoro awake can they be? On his own showing there arc over twenty organisations called by various names, from Civic Leagues to Progressive Associations, in every division in the city and outside. All thos-o are manifestly local associations of ratepayers to promote the "well-Being of their particular district or suburb. Is that not evidence of real live interest in city affairs'? Of course, they did. not prevent the Northland Tunnel or the Hill street deviation. These things were the City Councillors—as is Hunter street. Mr. Wilson suggests a Commission of: Inquiry. How is it that nearly everyone with a view to saving the ratepayers' money invariably proposes an inquiry or investigation? There was one of these in connection with tho Northland Tunnel, and it cost £700 to tell us that the engineer's estimate was £17,500, and that it actually cost more than double. Wo all knew that. No one was hanged. Councillors did not resign. They even proceeded to propound another blunder. The ratepayers look on. The ratepayers have every 'second year an opportunity of appointing a Commission of Inquiry by electing now councillors to do it.

Tho councillors who sanctioned Hunter street three years ago were re-elect-ed. Some of them are amazed that after three years' delay they should wake up and find it done in a night. They, too, had forgotten, or they would have taken stops to reverse their own order to creat more "traps" in citj highways.

Even the Mayor is surprised. Really, he had no idea. Too bad. Yet he deplores the Library Committee's blocking of Hill street, when he knows that the council has already expended over £20,000 on a direct routo to the western suburbs, and that another £.30,000 —the proposed expenditure on Hill stroet —would give effect to the first section of that direct route.

But his Worship says that "this Government is not a friend of the city." Why, the Minister of Education, when Mayor, said of Hill street that the construction of a tramway there presented serious engineering difficulties. These aii'l his regard for the public safety put Hill street out of the question. A change of position frequently brings about a change of view. But have tho engineering difficulties, so obvious to the then Mayor, vanished from the gaze of the Minister of Education; anr is the public safety, so much the concern of the then Mayor, just an infinitesimal circumstance to the Minister of Education? If the Government is not friendly to the city, are we to conclude that the Library Committee is its friend in the time of need?

I agree that there is waste, muddlement, extravagance, and a Commission of Inquiry would not tell us any more than that, and might cost five times more than the one on the Northland Tunnel. —I am, etc.,