FIRES AND WATER

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 49, 26 August 1930, Page 14

FIRES AND WATER

EASTBOURNE'S POSITION

Several other correspondents discuss the position of Eastbourne, particularly as disclosed by recent fires, in respect to the lack of water for fire-fighting, and also sanitation services.

Will Smith (Day's Bay) writes:— "Tha recent fires in Eastbourne Borough show how urgently an adequate water supply is needed in this neighbourhood. But the question' arises whether the ratepayers should be burdened with further grievous taxation, or whether it should be left to <- private firm to supply the borough with its necessary water. My "suggestion that this should be done has met with cries of disapproval from those who wish to make Eastbourne the model Socialist borough of the country. Municipal Socialism such as we suffer from at Eastbourne is clearly a proof of the impracticability of ever providing for the people through the State or the municipality. Eastbourne's municipal enterprise could be much more economically run by a private firm. Take, for instance, the transport services. Apart from the railways, could we find anywhere in the realm such an example of mismanagement and muddle, such a waste of the ratepayers' money? It is clear to all that the, ferry servico should not be duplicated by a bus servico with an identical time-table. Such duplication would never occur in private enterprise. Furthermore, I have been informed by competent authorities that the s.s. Muritai if employed at her full speed could give a regular servico between Wellington and Day's Bay every eighty minutes. The Eona Bay Wharf could be cut out and the ferry could be fed by two buses working between York Bay and Tawa street. A charge of 2s return could be made for the full journey, and would meet with universal approval. Just imagine the saving. Only three buses would be needed. The rest could be sold, and the b.s. Cobar could be kept specially for public holidays and for use during the period of the Muritai's overhaul."

"Batepayer" thinks it "almost incredible in. this enlightened- and progressive twentieth century that one of the moat attractive seaside suburbs in the Capital City is in the position—with regard to its essential services—of a backblocks mining town." It is common knowledge that the borough is heavily handicapped by the mistakes of the past. But are the mistakes and misfortunes of the past to bo a permanent stumbling block to its future progress? Eastbourne has almost unrivalled natural advantages, and yet it is without an adequate water supply, drainage, or anything in the shape of an. effective fire service. ' '.The losses of the past few months have rendered this last defect most glaringly apparent. Surely it is time some move was made to remedy the situation. It has long since passed the stage when indefinite promises are sufficient, and is now a question of whether those who are in charge of the borough's affairs are not only guilty of ineptitude but of culpable negligence. In these days water, drainage, and fire protection in populated districts are not merely modern conveniences^ —they are vital necessities."

"Another Besident" objects to reversion to capital value rating for another loan. "It would hardly be fair to rate on the empty sections for water and drainage. This means that the whole burden of the loan" must fall on a less number of ratepayers than are now rated for the £60,000. ferry loan, and more so on those who were enticed to erect most expensive and elaborate dwellings on the unimproved value system. To say that this, that, and the other thing would even up matters and bring about a reduction in rates is utter nonsense. It would not even be sufficient to pay the fire brigade men, to say nothing of the £40 each that must be found to connect up each residence. . . Khandallah, Ngaio, and other suburbs have progressed on acconnt of their proximity to the city, and also because they are not heavily burdened with a £60,000 to over £100,000 in all ferry loans. They have not dabbled in outside affairs. 'Progress's' policy is water and drainage at any cost, but I would say, make provision to pay. off the £60,000 ferry loan, and it will be quite time enough to deal in water and drainage when that large amount is paid off."