EASTBOURNE FIRES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 42, 18 August 1930, Page 11

EASTBOURNE FIRES

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Permit me to encroach on your space to make a few observations in connection with the above-mentioned matter, which is closely connected with the absence of an efficient fire Tmgade consequent upon the failure of the Borough Council to provide a water supply for the seasido resort. . The recent disastrous fire, which was only cheeked by bringing the city firefighting plant to-the scene, has emphasised the very vulnerable position the borough is in. It is fortunate that the fire did not oecnr in other parts of the town removed from the sea front, asotherwise it is probable that many more houses would have been destroyed. There is not the slightest doubt, and no one can.argue logically otherwise, that the absence of a water supply and sewerage system retards the progress of any town, particularly when that town is adjacent to a city and suburbs where those facilities are provided. For instance, would Khandallah, Ngaio, and other suburbs with far less attractions than Eastbourne, have made such progress if they had not possessed those two important services referred to? I think not. And, it is safe to say that the stable population of Eastbourne will gradually diminish and property values decline unless the Borough Council and the residents can be induced to take active action to provide water and sewerage which people nowadays regard as the most important services in connection with modern civilisation.

'Another Besident," in his letter which appeared in your paper on Saturday, states that as the borough is rated on the unimproved system the providing of the required services, even if it induced more people to come to the Bay, would not mean that any additional rates could be collected. In. that, he is wrong, as it is quite possible to raise a loan and rate on the capital value for that particular loan. Moreover, the big influx of people which it is quite reasonable to assume, the installation of an efficient water and sewerage system would attract, would make the ferry and bus services more profitable. In addition, no difficulty would be experienced in obtaining capital for building purposes, with the result that the prosperity of the borough and the lightening of the rate burden would be inevitable. No, the fact remains that unless Eastbourne wakes np and takes immediate action, they, can never hope for their town to progress beyond the "woek-end-bach" type, at. any rate until all available space in and around Wellington ia taken up. The empty sections, with their tell-tale heaps of broken bricks and twisted iron, must have sent many a prospective resident, hurrying back on the boat, ' In conclusion, if residents of the same opinion as "Old Eosident" would study the position, they would find that the saving in insurance rates and cost of the present antiquated sanitary service would almost balance the increase in rates if the scheme was put into effect. Here's hoping that someone will convono a public meeting, so that the matter can.be fully ventilated, and, if necessary, to tako steps to hurry things along.—l am, etc., PROGRESS.