LETTERS to the EDITOR

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22588, 17 March 1948, Page 4

LETTERS to the EDITOR

READERS’ OPINIONS

GARBAGE COLLECTION Sir,—Your correspondents “Progress” and '‘K.W.” have made a misleading statement in regard to collection of garbage tins from backyards, which requires correction. I lived in Wellington from 1938 until 1946 and, during those years, the garbage was collected from the backyard of each dwelling and, to the best of my knowledge, that system still applies. I was therefore, not amazed as “Progress” was, when I came 1o Gisborne two years ago, and found a satisfactory system of rubbish collection. M. J. McARTNEY. Sir, —Correspondents supporting Mr. Kohn's plan cannot be aware that the plan was in vogue when Mr. D. W. Coleman, M.P, was mayor of this town, but it was scrapped because of

Sir, —Having read the letters of your correspondents "Progress” and “K.W.,” I feel I must put in a word for the old and disabled. There are very many households where there is no one physically able to carry a rubbish tin to the front gate. Your editorial suggestion, that these cases should have special service from the rubbish collectors would hardly work in practice. The men on a GO-houses-an-hour schedule could not reasonably be expected to give this extra service. As ior going to the front gate tor a letter there is some difference in weight between a letter or a bottle of milk and a rubbish tin. Finally, it seems a strange time to want to scrap horsedrawn carts when petrol is scarce and we are asked to save dollars.

HUMANITY. Sir,—l am surprised to find that you support the proposal to compel every householder to carry his rubbish-tin out to the street. That would be quite impossible, in my case, and there are many others in the same position. But you support it as economical and a timesaver. It would probably save the borough a little, but it would impose a much greater burden on the citizens themselves. The weekly collection of rubbish is quite a weight and the tin is apt to be dirty. If the ordinary citizen has to carry that down before he starts for business he'll need to keep an old coat for the job and he’ll need a wash and brush-up afterwards before he can start for town. At present a young strong man comes up with a big tin and in one trip takes the rubbish from two or three houses, a job he is dressed suitably for. You might save a very little on his wages by making the householder do most of the work, but the cost to us would be five or six times the saving to the borough. THOS. TODD. TWe would not have supported the scheme if there were no solution of the problem facing elderly people and invalids. Mr. Todd ignores that part of the lending article which draws attention to the special exemption that could be granted and to the "good neighbour" policy which, in many cases, would overcome the difficulty.—Ed. Herald.)

the high expense. It would be interesting to know what that expense was and what has become of the lorries. To compare Gisborne with Wellington, Auckland and other big cities is unfair. Let the motto be, “First things first," j namely, roads, i thought that was Mr. ! Kohn’s policy. The aged, the sick and the women have been the wheelbarrow and the donkey long enough. Someone should carry for them. COMMON SENSE. I Sir, —I live in Kilbirnie, a thickly ' populated area, and there the garbage collectors come to the back door. If there are flats, they go up to the flat and pick up the tin. This is much more difficult than any collection in flat Gisborne. At Terrace Gardens, a j very steep part of Wellington with a | narrow track and no vehicular access, the collectors climb up and down to the residences, making several trips. The residents put out empty bottles and rags, which the collectors sell and the proceeds go into a pool, which is divided amongst the garbage collection staff from time to time. Wellington residents are very appreciative of the wonderful service collectors give and they don't forget them at Christmas time. WELLINGTON! AN. Sir.—l think the cost of the garbage collection can well be left to the Town Clerk. The actual cost was not so much i n my mind as the great inconvenience and hardship to elderly and weak people. I am quite aware that, in some towns there are front-gate collections. In Gisborne there are backyard collections, and that makes our town so much superior to others. The front-gate delivery of milk and also of garbage do not go together very well, to my mind. Neither does it seem very neighbourly to ask your nextdoor neighbour to carry your tin for you. If you get lorries and three men are on the job, it will mean heavier costs rather than a lighter one. My rate has gone up from about 8/- per year to more than £2O per year for the same quarter acre. If it costs a little more to maintain the present system, I say pay, and keep our front gates clean by all means. FRANCIS STAFFORD.