BOROUGH CRITICS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 10 May 1938, Page 4

BOROUGH CRITICS.

Sir, —A certain amount of criticism of borough affairs, has appeared in your columns the last few .issues, but as the critics are afraid to disclose their names, little notice need be taken of such criticism, as most of it results from lack of knowledge and superficial judgment. The council of a borough the size of Levin, which has no resident engineer to assist it, is called on to decide many matters, which, in a larger borough, the engineer would undertake with a vast saving of time and discussion. Naturally, where you have the diversity of opinio'n that you find amongst a council, it becomes somewhat difficult to reach a decision at times. Much of the criticism has been Ilevelled at the water supply, but Levin is not the only borough at the present I time faced with a similar problem, owing to the forces of nature damaging their source of supply. With the rapid changes that are taking plfi.ee amongst the hills where the devastation occurred, h is difficult to foresee what the p'ositicn might be in even twelve mouths. IL was almost twelve months after the big storm before the borough supply showed any signs of serious disturbance, and this was only after a torrential downpour which caused a tremendous flood to sweep away the fallen timber, etc., in the various channels of the Ohau. Investigation made by a responsible officer of the State Forest Department, after this, disclosed the information that a rapid improvement was taking place. Other alternative sources of supply, which were thought to be unaffected, have stiil shown themselves to be little better than the Ohau in flood time. However, the council has wisely decided ti hand the problem over to an engineer, now that it is realised that the natural improvement may take years to come about.

Time and space do not permit me to deal with other issues raised by your correspondents, all of which can be well answered. —Yours, etc., C. S. KEEIAVELL.