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Evening Star, Issue 15514, 9 June 1914, Page 6

Those who lake the trouble to read the report in extenso (ap-

Spoiling the Land Speculator.

pearing in another part of this issue) of the Commissioners on the Taimii petition will

notice that in the opinion of Mr Widdowson, S.M., and his two colleagues the plans of the subdivision of the township ought certainly not to have been approved by the local bodies without requiring the streets to bo formed to such a level as would permit them to bo drained by the street channels ; but, having taken them over, they must now be raised at the ratepayers' expense. In other words, the greed of the land speculator was gratified at the expense of the ratepayers. It would be interesting to know why members of these local bodies were so generous to these speculators. As Mr Somerville expressed it, the stronger should help the weak. Doubtless the weak (the Tainui ratepayers) are now fervently wishing that Mr Somervillc's quite altruistic sentiments had actuated the local bodies who helped tho strong ol ' (tho speculators) at the expense of the ratepayers. In marked contrast to the policy of these local bodies has been the attitude taken up by the St. Kilda Borough Council when from time to time they were called upon to" protect their ratepayers against speculators. That council have always welcomed any scheme to develop their borough, but have at the same time adopted the sound principle that their first duty was to protect the interests of their ratepayers. Speculators have sometimes comolained of harsh treatment from St. Kilda. They must now recoenise that the obligations imposed upon them by that council were just and equitable; and if there is such a thing as gratitude in public life, the ratepayers of St. Kilda ou.?ht to extend it to the councillors who have so strenuously opposed any proposal detrimental to their interests.