ANOTHER PHANTOM PROJECT.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XIX, Issue 2051, 4 December 1924, Page 4

ANOTHER PHANTOM PROJECT.

In view of several facts that were stated, at the meeting of the Borough Council on Monday evening, it is hard! to understand why it was decided to postpone the question of the abattoirs for anotlier period. This has now been before the Cotuncil for two years; after exhaustive enquiries it was decided to acquire Tatham's property, a decision that had the hall-mark of approval of the Agricultural Department; the Mayor stated that the price asked for [this property was a fair one, and the conditions reasonable. Under these circumstances there seemed nothing to dm hut accept the offer of the lamd. Yet it has been decided to ask the permission of the Agricultural Department to postpone the matter for another twelve months. During no period of the debate was there any reason given for holding the matter up, unless it was that of finance mentioned- by the Mayor. However, the Agricultural Department has insisted that the be gone on with, and if the money is not available, then it would be as well ly state ;this fact to the Department. It would be batter to do this than make the question of a few pounds of grass seed the reason for postponing the erection of /the abattoirs. It is a ludicrous position if the Premier has: advised local bodies to cease borrowing while one of his Departments insists irfii certain works which necessitate the borrowing ojf money. However, the abattoirs will be- no burden on the ratepayers as they will be selfsupporting, and there should be no difficulty in obtaining the money. The difference as to improvements between the owner of the property and the Council amounts-to a small sum, and if the latter considers that a fair and reasonable price has been asked for the property, why should there be any further delay in closing with the 'offer? The Council has many promises, made at the last election, to redeem before its term of offiqe expires. It can never redeem these by wasting time on a matter which, so far as the average ratepayer can see, should have been seittled long before this.