Grey River Argus and Blackball News MONDAY, June 26, 1922. BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY.

Grey River Argus, 26 June 1922, Page 4

Grey River Argus and Blackball News

MONDAY, June 26, 1922. BOROUGH WATER SUPPLY.

Delivered every mo. nin< in Gr< .mfa r Hokitika, Dobson. Wallsend, Taylo. /iUc. Crouuuun. Nkalierc. Blackball. Nelson Creek. Brunner, Te Kingha Rotomanu, Poerua, Inchbonnte, Patara, Ruru, Raima ta. Kotukv Moana. Aratika, Bunanga. Dunollie, Cobden, Baxter s, Kokiri. Ahaura. Ikamatua, Stulwater, Waiuta, Reefton. Ross, Ruatapua, Mananin, H.iri Hari, Waiho Gorge, Weheka. Rewanui. Otira. Inrngahua Junction. Westport. Waimangaroa. Denniston. Granity, Millerton. Ngakawau. Hectac a Scddonville, Caps Foulwiud. and Karam tz.

A casual persual of the ‘ ‘ Grey mouth Evening Star’s” editorial of Saturday in relation to Borough Councillors condemnation of the policy of persistently “decrying the town,” is all that is necessary to demonstrate whom the cap fits exactly. Councillors referred to a local press habit of the nature indicated, and the “Star” feels called upon to reply. Yet it is obvious how quickly our contemporary harps on defects in Borough concerns when ccouncillors themselves place such handicaps within the “Star’s” rather short-sighted range of perception, but when so much is nut done, our contemporary is content 55 ith a vague guess at the actual position. In the discussion on the water supply at Thursday’s Council meeting wc fail to locate a reference to a particular paper decrying the town, and the councillor who used the expression svas at pains to make it clear he meant neither local paper individually, but the press generally, in his remarks upon what he considered an apparent reluctance to promote municipal progress. Now we submit the “Star’s” ready and even eager, acceptance of the Mayor’s alarmist talk last week about a water shortage sufficiently justified the Council’s criticism, as also the “Star’s” taking Cr. Doogan’s remarks upon its own head. Its assertion as to the need for an engineering feat to secure water for the pumps —the said feat being performed with a couple of walking sticks by two councillors — only emphasises the “’Star’s” exag-

gcrations. We disagree with our eonteniporory that the councillors were “satisfied there was little cause for

their criticism,” for a motion of censure on the Mayor was withdrawn by the mover only after the former expressed his intention to call the Conn- 1 cil together in order to review the whole supply position. The councillors we believe, are all agreed an improvement is necessary, but the “Star’s” policy of scare-mongering must tend merely to raise insurance rates, and instead of promoting progress, cost residents dearly. Wc have never made a secret of our objection to the quality, rather than the quantity, of the supplyWe fancy an alarmist policy is what the “Star” follows when talking of a policy of silence. It is not by scare mongering that reform is best promoted, but by sticking to the point constantly when things go better as well as when they go worse. The “Star” had better come out candidly with the advocacy of a gravitation supply, and tell the ratepayers straight that nothing else will ever fill the bill. It had advocated an outside engineer, and yet is ready to swallow the Mayor’s “en-

gineering” suggestion for an artesian supply such as would prove only a fine sink for many thousand pounds.