WATER AND DRAINAGE.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLV, Issue 66, 18 March 1911, Page 2

WATER AND DRAINAGE.

TO THE EDITOE.

Sir,—There is one" other feature of Mr R. Allan's letter of Wednesday that should receive due consideration. He says, "I nearly forgot tomention the cost of three engines. Interest on that, cost of fuel, oil, wages, wear-and-tear,. insurance of taeii at^pumping stations will amount to £2000 per year. Capitalise that sum and you get £50,000 more mortgages on your borough." There is a good deal of calculated and purposed exaggeration in this statement, but let that pass. Mr Dobson did; not "nearly forget" the necessary plant, and "if Mr Allan will peruse the report he will find all these things enumerated * and provided for. ■I want, however, ;ta show the absurdity of the argument which, capitalises working expenses and makes it into a mortgage on the town. The following examples will show what I mean. To systematise and make efficient our present method of nightsoil disposal would cost £1200 per year; capitalise that as per Mr Allan, and you mortage your towir for £24,000. The food we eat, clothing we wear, and rent we pay in this borough may be roughly stated-at £100,000 per yearl Capitalise this and (reasoning along Mr Allan's line) we are mortgaged for £2,000,000. The liquor consumed in the town at a very low estimate costs £10^000; capitalise that and (per Mr. Allan) we are mortgaged for another £200,000. Our recreations, sports, pastimes, etc. cannot be calculated to a nicety, but £3000 per year is no overestimate; capitalise that and we are mortaged (by Mr Allan's method) for another £60,----000. Surely it is only necessary to state thus the reasoning of Mr Allan to show the misconception that enteirs into his calculations and his evident desire to prejudice the proposal at any sacrific of fair argument.

E. H. PENNY