TO THE CRITICS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 140, 10 December 1926, Page 8

TO THE CRITICS

SOME STRAIGHT TALK

BY COUNCILLOR TO CIVIC

LEAGUE

''NOT SLIGHTEST CONCEPTION OF

WORK DONE."

Councillor W. H. Bennett, who was asked by the Civic League to address its members at their annual meeting last evening as spokesman for the City Councillors, replied bluntly enough to critics of the council.

"In acceding to your request that 1 should attend your annual meeting and speak ob municipal activities, I have done so with no idea of apologising for the actions o£ myself, fellow-councillors, or his Worship the Mayor," said Councillor Bennett. "We were elected to serve the city to the best of our ability, and I conscientiously believe that all have done their best, with the knowledge and evidence before them when dealing with matters coming before the council from time to time. That it has been both a strenuous and trying time you must all admit. With a sick Town Clerk, the indisposition of Mr. Brigham, one of the engineers, and Mr. .Morice, the drainage and _ water engineer, is it any wonder that in the congestion and rush work has been delayed and mistakes made? "In spite of it all I am bold enough to assert that more substantial and permanent work has been done during, the last eighteen months than m any two years previously. The attention to all subdivisions of land, the ever-mcreasing demand in connection with traffic matters, the battle with bylaws waiting a very long time for revision, calls for an enormous amount of time on the part ot some councillors. The paving scheme, go beneficial to all* the completion of -he water mains and drainage for Karon and Onslow, are permanent or semi-permanent works. At no time have the chairmen of the various committees or . his Worship the Mayor been more keen to keep m touch with all that is going on than during this term. A careful watch is being kept on all expenditure. Cast your mind over what has been done or is being don? by the Tramway Department.'

BENEFICIAL WORKS.

"It appears to me that the average citizen, not even the members of this league, has the slightest conception of the work done by councillors. Take the cultivated reserves—and they are many and scattered—and still the cry is for more, bince March, 1925, when this council came into existence, we have laid 229,025 square yards of tar macadam and hot mix, equ^l to twenty and three-quarter miles of pavement 18 feet wide. Since 1922 no less than thirty-nine miles have been laid within the city boundary, and thirteen miles in adjacent boroughs. "The beneficial results of this paving have been enormous; the annual cost ol maintenance before paying was 5.43 d per square yard; since paving Jld. Owing to increased motor traffic the cost of mam ; tenance would have swallowed up most ot our income if the paving had not been done. It is interesting to note what this increase of motor traffic is as recorded by the registrations. For the year 1922 they were 3300, and in the year March, 1925, to March, 1926, 9137. The expenditure on the street watering and scavenging has been much the same during the last four years, but the cost is less by some £3000 than in 1922. Many improvements havo been introduced in cleansing the paved streets, and many others are under consideration and investigation. "By cutting out the proposed expensive brick paving on the steeper grades, and paving with a coarser hot mix, we shall have money enough to topdress and cover with two coats of screenings about three miles of our secondary streets.

"EVEN BETTER THAN YOU."

"Need I remind you of the completion of the connecting link between the main road near Miramar golf links and Seatoun, via the coastline at Lyall Bay, or the improvements to the sand area of Lyall Bay, the improvements to Alexandra road, or Hornsy road, fresh quarries opened, and others extended? The hundred and one works required and written about from time to time are well known to the councillors, and will be undertaken when money and circumstances permit. You and others point "out urgent works; we know them all—footpaths to be formed, others paved, storm-water drainage urgently required, playing areas to be provided. We know them all even better than you, and our desire to do them are us great as yours. Each year brings its own wants, and the city's expansion demands increased expenditure and increased responsibilities for councillors and Btaff.

WATER FROM DUCK'S BACK.

"The petty oriticisms we have to put up with falls like water ofi a duck's back, but the mud sometimes sticks. The nasty innuendoes of self-seeking and self-inter-ests, log rolling, and place-seeking, are flung back by those of us who know nothing of these things. Our work is given in the spirit of service to our time and generation. Who would put up with the expenditure of time and peace of mind otherwise? Now go, too, ye critics, and give a little credit to those who serve. It is better to throw a few flowers along life's pathway than fill a hearse with wreaths.

"In all times and under all conditions men have suffered from carping critics. Was it not a well-known poet who was constrained to cry: 'Ye wasps that sting, ye rats that undermine men's reputations' ? And even the perfect man was constrained to say: *Ye hypocrites, for ye lade men •with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.' If you live long enough and serve long enough, you get through. "Where is the criticism that his Worship the Mayor, as councillor, with. I and othen had to put up with over the milk scheme? We shall see the new station as near perfection as is possible. "In closing, may I say that this great city is moving on rapidly, and cannot stand still. We want a Mayor and council who dare to move, and not too slowly, on Bound lines for future generations. The general public cannot _ know all that is being done, nor would it be wise for them to do so; it would upset so many, proposals and negotiations."