MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 17 January 1929, Page 6

MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS.

(To the Editor)

Sir, —Councillor Fe.lloon always Avrites a' good lotte’ - —a pleasure to read his common sense suggestion—and I heartily endorse his opinions. The failing of our Borough has been —and is, —too much “this end of the lOAvn” and “that end of the toAvn” and not enough pull together for “the good of the town.” That too much personality and self-interest is rife is tully apparent. A strong “head of affairs’ ’ —impartial, with no axe to grind, a guiding and ruling hand to cut this sort of thing out—is Avhat is wanted. Is it any wonder that our best toAvnsmen Avill not come forward under the present- conditions? As regards Trafalgar Street, Councillor Falloon is misinformed. The Trafalgaritea Avere never offered a fullwidth tarred footpath, but a halfwidth footpath—one half length only of each side of the street to be done, portion past empty sections, and portion lo stop at the gate of a new bungalow. Nor did they ever ask for a ■bitumen footpath. They avouM be satisfied with a full-width tarred and curbed footpath similar to the miles of other footpaths in the loan. Below Nelson Street they have not had a penny of the thousands spent on the streets. To my knowledge the street is the same to-day as twenty years ago. Surely they are entitled to some of the rates paid all tlu.se years.’ Further, the Council proposes to spend hundreds of pounds to lay down a second footpath in streets already served by a tarred footpath nul bitumen road. Is Trafalgar iStreet being victimised? The residents were to be met by Council representativ. s, bin the Avishes of the Council have not been carried out. Why? 1 would further ask, why were the Silent Policemen painted when, the Council decreed they should come up?

Again, why Avas not the corner ari l entrance to the Bark of .Australasia bitumenized when the road was done’ Why the public to suffer ■ Still further, why such undue opposition to the suggested alientions of certain business premises d; Oxford Street? Should not a business man helped to cany out the by-laws and not obstructed; Why too, Avas Councillor Barker —an old resident, ratepayer, business man and Councillor, frequently a much needed “opposition”—so treated over the Cambridge Street footpath? As a ratepayer alone, ho was worthy of more courteous treatment. Much could be written but space forbids. In conclusion, I say: Trafalgarites, stick to your guns! Councillor Falloon ’s suggested Civic League, as .in Wellington, is a “consummation devoutly to be wished.”—Yours etc., CIVIS.