Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, JULY 11th., 1925. BROUGH AFFAIRS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 July 1925, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE SATURDAY, JULY 11th., 1925. BROUGH AFFAIRS.

One Borough Council meeting appears to be fairly similar to its predecessors, many of the- subjects for discussion nowadays, being those that have been previously amply debated. Take, fi>r instance. I lie tai- nn-naey,. suspeeled plague, •"..a.se ni Biic-bane

prompts the Dominicn Department of

Health to issue another circular on the danger to health and the? loss to property the rat causes; Each local body, at the next meetiilg lifter the circular’s receipt,, solemnly agrees with the and repeats former declarations of war. If suchultimatums and regulations were really meant, there \would be little risk from rats by this time. The rodents may be given attention for a day or two, but the casualties, from such onslaught have; hitherto; never been serious. • The war on rats must be consistently maintained for weeks before any real alteration will be accomplished, and such conflict must be-waged ill earnest, and not by passing resolutions ill the Council Chamber. Moreover, local bodies must set their own dumps and reserves in order, before they can expect householders to take the trouble evaded by the authorities. That, rats form a real menace to health, and cause heavy loss financially, cannot be denied, but despite much propaganda, local bodies and private citizens do not yet realise the cost of the rat pest. Another “old friend” at . the Greymouth Borough Council meetings, was referred to by Or Harker, namely, that many “resolutions” passed 'by the Council are not ultimately given effect. Time and again has this ’negligence been commented upon in this column, and it is gratifying, at last, to learn that at least one Councillor is tired of the farce of passing resolutions not subsequently honoured. It is, of course, much easier to dodge a duty by referring this, that or the other to some committee, but civic progress is not thereby, More business-like methods would save the Councilors a lot of time and,, probably, the ratepayers a. - fair amount of money. Protests were made, again, this week about the straying animal nuisance. The cenotaph s newly grassed plot —adding greatly to the attractiveress of the site has already been damaged ,and the.. . unwelcome visitors have also been as vandals on the roadside plots recently beautified by' .various public-spirited, townsmen. It is most annoying after expending time, labour and money on beautifying public thoroughfares, to have the work spoilt by straying stock, and the time is long overdue when owners of the offending animals should be compelled to pay more attention to confining these to their rightful quarters. A few really heavy fines would have the effect of minimising th© nursan.ee, and it will be interesting to watch developments. Greymouth’s growth makes it' necessary that the leniency of earlier- days should no longer be maintained. If it is, it will be the end of the efforts of householders to assist in borough beautificatron schemes.