CIVIC CLEANLINESS.

Evening Star, Issue 22526, 19 December 1936, Page 16

CIVIC CLEANLINESS.

Week there any iH-savoured connection between the unkempt and at times dirty condition of Dunedin’s city and suburban streets and the epidemic of infantile paralysis now making a cheerless visitation, citizens would be worried more often by such maladies than they actually are. No direct evidence appears to bo available that the disease has come upon the community as a result of the City Corporation’s antiquated and lackadaisical methods of street tidying, but that is not to say that a civic spring-cleaning is unnecessary. Several years ago Dunedin, despite the solidity of its buildings and the natural beauty lying so close at hand, gained some notoriety as an untidy city, and it is largely due to the efforts of the Amenities Society and the appeals it made to the City Council that something was done to cope with the litter of rubbish all too frequently seen in the main thoroughfares. The society also supplied the driving force which brought about improvements in the reserves and other spaces that lent themselves to the planting of llowers and shrubs. It is clear, however, that the City Council is not keeping pace with northern centres in the matter of street and footpath hygiene. Matter worse than the common litter of paper and cigarette packets is allowed to remain where it is deposited until it is disposed of as the wind pleases. Apparently nobody is responsible, for instance, for tbe removal of tbo blemishes left by dogs. As a result of the disrespect of these animals for sanitary principles, many of the footpaths in suburbs that are otherwise clean afe in a disgusting state. Regulation dust-bins, moreover, are “ regulation ” only in name. It is high time they became “ regulation ” by enforcement, and that their contents were disposed of more effectively than under the present loose system of dumping. The workmen of the Dunedin City Council would be a credit to any local body. It is those in authority who must accept the blame for the civic backwardness. Street cleaning here is much too perfunctory. It may cost money to bring about the reforms that are needed—an enlarged staff perhaps—but it would be money well spent; and the outcome, would give people a greater sense of comfort and security than the pursuance of political whims such as the burial of innocuous guns in tho reserves. The slovenly condition of Dunedin was in evidence before the present council assumed power, hut it cannot bo said that the increased municipal expenditure noticeable since the

swing to party administration has resulted in a corresponding increase in cleanliness. It is to be hoped that by Uxo time the next local body elections come round the electors will have been seized with the importance of putting into power councillors who realise their duty to the community and are content to allow political issues to be threshed out in the building in Wellington specially designed for that purpose many years ago.