RE NAPIER TRAMWAYS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume II, Issue 120, 6 May 1912, Page 5

RE NAPIER TRAMWAYS.

TO THE BDITOR.

Sir, —I must admit lam amused at Mr. Nelson’s definition of “plain speaking’ ’and “abuse,” especially when he quotes the proverb “You can‘t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear,” the inference being obvious. I can only reply with another quotation, “You cannot expect anything from a pig but a grunt.” In referring to engineering firms, I was simply showing the necessity for expert advice, but Mr. Nelson, having fitted on the cap, is evidently “touchy” on this point, so I will not refer to it again. Mr Nelson was elected to the council in April, 1909, on a ticket; the chief plank being whole-hearted support in carrying out the loan proposals as submitted to the public on the first election. Therefore it is admitted that Mr. Nelson was not opposed to the trams. I. showed, however, that he had two months to express his changed opinions, if, indeed, they were changed. I do not object to Mr. Nelson altering his \iews after three years, but I do object to him, after applying to the council for a months’ extension of time for the closing of tenders, which application the council agreed to (notwithstanding the opposition of our engineer and other competing firms) comencing his opposition only when he knew the amount of his tender would be much in excess of the amount available.

I supported Mr. Nelson in connection with electric pumping. lam not in any way blaming him for the extra loan, for I think the centralisation of the various schemes was a good move, and for this Mr. Nelson deserves credit. My argument was simply to show the reason for Mr. Black being paid a larger sum for commission. However, I am not going to labour the point, for it is easy to see that Mr. Nelson and I cannot agree. Personally, if I purchase a ton of coal I don’t expect to get an extra half ton without paying for it. With regard to the surplus of £3OOO in connection with the water works, Mr. Nelson can claim no credit for this. Why, Mr. Sturrock had not been in Napier thfee months before he told the councillors that there had been too much borrowed under this head, whilst the sum allowed for sewage was too low. I w’ould refer Mr. Nelson to Ormiston Chants’ report for details. With regard to the cry of “follow the engineers,” I can understand Mr. Nelson being sore on this point. Has he not been trying all over the Australian Colonies to obtain engineering advice in connection with the Inner Harbour, in the vain hope that he would get at last a report favourable to his scheme ? Being unsuccessful, he practically advises the ratepayers not tq follow engineering advice, but do follow him !— I am, etc., E. CROWLEY. Napier, 6th May, 1912.