THE SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 235, 21 September 1911, Page 4

THE SPIRIT OF COMPROMISE.

The great majority of the people in Napier will feel gratified to know that the Borough Council did not treat the Town Board’s suggestion for connection with borough sewerage in a general spirit cf hostility when it came before last night’s meeting. We- have all along been strongly opposed to the formation cf a paltry local governing authority, but the people most concerned .are the people within the district themselves. We tendered advice, and the Council was willing ami anxious to meet the wishes cf the residents, but they decided for themselves, and then* decision was to have a local body of their own. It was their business, .and gives the Council cause to feel annoyance. The opinion cf most people who have considered the question is that the district could have done better by merging. Let that be proved, but let it be* proved without a shadow of hostility or des re to score points. That the Board would speedily awaken to the necessity for connection with Borough services is not strange. It is only one step in the inevitable absorbtion of the lesser by the greater body. It is, however, as inevitable for the Borough. to absorb the Board m' it is lor the Board to seek absorbtion. Realising this, let there be fair pla.y to both sidis. The ratepayers of the Borough have rated themselves heavily for the provision cf these services.'.and if the Town Board is to get the advantage cf these, it is only fair they should pay their proportion and perhaps a little more for not ‘‘standing in" earlier. A town should be worked for as a whole, and net, as Cr. Crowley wisely remarked last night, on the policy of ‘’pull devil pull baker.”