TOWN AMENITIES

Hokitika Guardian, 23 January 1935, Page 6

TOWN AMENITIES

(To rhe Editor)

Sir, —In the course of a. discussion on the merits and demerits of Hokitika. some time ago, a friend of mine solemnly assured me that the townsfolk resented criticism from newcomers very much. If I remember rightly, the conversation had more to do with culture and the book-read-ing capacity of the town than anything else, but I never really saw the logic of his argument, that because one came from another town one s criticism, either for good or bad, uas necessarily unpalatable. It seemed to smack, at the same time, of the feudal days when the inhabitants of one town were foreigners and social outcasts in another, and although I was disinclined to believe that Hokitika- had failed to progress beyond that stage, I did not care to think my friend guilty of hyperbole. f have, bedn agreeably surprisedvtherefore, with the .afiimbsb violent support my protest has gained in the columns of your impartial newspaper. To “Sunitas,” “Ratepayer,” “Another Resident”, “New Rlood,” “Well Wisher”, and “Nosey” my very host thanks. To “Indignant Townsman”, defender of smells, my sympathy.

However, to continue with the cdourous subject (and I hope my supporters will retain their enthusiasm). If ;1 referendum were held, and this of course rs unnecessary, it would 1 think bo generally agreed that steps be taken to make the town a place fit to live in, with the maximum of pleasure. But in fairness to the Borj ough Council, which has only a certain amount of revenue to expend, it must be pointed out that, in order to have the town and beach improved, ratepayers would have to submit to an increase in rates. The question then is this: Do the ratepayers want a proper rubbish-collecting service or do they want the present disgraceful system of burning, burying and Revell Street collecting to continue? Do the ratepayers want the storm-water channels to remain uncemented and stagnantly swampy or do they want a clean, efficient, up-to-date gutter system ; and finally, do the ratepayers want bathing-sheds and a reasonably clean beach or do they want their j children to undress anywhere among the broken bottles and fly-blown refuse of that not altogether idyllic spot P If opinion is favourable the ratepayers must he prepared to put their hands into their pockets and purses. The question of cummunal health then is pitched against the small burden of an appropriate change in the local tax system. It is for the ratepayers find ultimately the Council to decide and for the convenience of anyone who may happen to think of it, I am not a ratepayer. It may not, of course, he possible for the Council to raise the present valuation of pronertv. In that case the most practicable thing to do is to contract a loan an diet posterity pay, for although posterity can have no share in the Council poliov of to-day they will, at least, have the satisfac-

tion of possessing the public assets created by the loan. I am etc., S. H. DROMGOOLE.