The Charge for Crossings.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 822, 8 March 1909, Page 2

The Charge for Crossings.

Veby natural indignation at the most recent action of the Council is expressed by a correspondent who writes in another column on the question of crossings. The imposition just sprung upon ratepayers has come as a great surprise, and ttie writer of the letter does the Council one injustice in wondering whether the deed of imposition was dono in secret — if i not, he asks, why was it not reported in the Star? That needs an explanation from us. When the Council, in open meeting, decided to charge rate- ; payers with the cost of remaking cros. sings which it (the Council) was to '■ tear up, it was proposed that tho notice that such a course should be advertised. Some Councillors thought it would be more economical to send out circulars to the eighty odd persons concerned. Probably those economical ones thought the Stab would give the Council a cheap advertisement by reporting the decision. Now, the Stah gives the town and tho Council and its affairs a very large amount of space free of charge — there is no other newspaper published in New Zealand that is so loyal to its town as is tho Stah; and this paper gets from the Council only tho things it is compelled to publish. A. newspaper that is a modern and as up-to-dato as the Star is an expensive concern to run, but the Council expects us to do all the giving. Thus it happens that many ratepayers have notbeen prepared for the bomb that has boon exploded by circular. And the Council has been oven more shortsighted, i'or even now it is utilising the valuable time of the new assistant engineer in interviewing ratepayer about those crossings, instead of enabling him to push on the work. The whole matter is a saendal, and is of a piece with the- mismanagement of tho borough's affairs. "For what is at the root of the trouble? The Engineer and tho Council made a miseaSculation in their estimates of ihi> cost of the kerbing and channelling — they forgot- to allow for the cost of crossings ! And now, as a way out. a section of the ratepayers have to pay for the remaking of crossings. \vhil.>t those already done go scot free. It is a fair and equitable thing that the Council should, at its own costleave a man's property as it finds it. If a good crossing exists at any place whore a path is being for mod, that '•rossing should be replaced by the Council. But it is also fair that nil property owners should have, substantial and durable crossings where there are double gateways. And when the Council is forming a path, tho crossing should be provided — at tho cost •if the ratepayer, who has boon renr'ss in not previously providing a crossing. And every ratepayer should be treated alike — there should not ho one treatment for the ratepayer of Man-chester-street and another for him • i Bowon-stroet.