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Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 140, 16 June 1913, Page 2

[to the editor.]

Sir, —There, are one or two further matters on the above I Should like to put before ratepayers before they go to Wednesday's poll, andi there might not be an opportunity at tonight's meeting, which I earnestly hope all ratepayers will attend. First I would like to reiterate that there •will never be a. better time than the present, because our money is cheap, as money goes now, and Labor and material will never be cheaper than they are now. Blenheim id almost notorious now as the only town of any size in New Zealand to be so backward as to be without these conveniences. Many rash statements are being made to the detriment of the town with, the idea of blocking progress, and I would like ratepayers carefully to dissect the twaddle being used as arguments against these schemes. Take Councillor Caw's letter, published last Wednesday, as a sample. Why, instead of condemning the schemes, if the charges he makes ai-e true, it is nothing but a succession of arguments in favor of altering the existing arrangements as soon as possible. I think it is one of the most marvellous letters written by a public man. Evidently Councillor Carr has failed lamentably in his public duty by not reporting these happenings before, and I am most anxious to hear what the police report on their inquiries will be.. As for saying they are arguments <against water and drainage, well, I can't see where it comes iti. Some of the other letters have ?>een equally ridiculous, notably that of "Mother of Three," who would have done better to leave figures alone, us it is a subject ishe does not know .much about, apparently, when she makes the annual interest more than the amount at present borrowed. ! want the ratepayers, of whom there sic about 1350 now, not a.small ,600 only, as many would have use believe, fibo to know this fact. The past Council engaged the engineer for a three years' term, iand he has an agreement whereby, should the work be stopped and his services now dispensed with, he will receive some £600 as compensation over and above his salary due to

1 date of leaving. Further, offices have j been taken, for a term, and that rent { would have to be paid whether we use them Osr not. These moneys would be absolutely wasted, although up to the present we have got good work and value for the wages paid the office staff in the plans and data filed. It is being freely stated that land cannot be sold now in the borough, and that none has been sold since the loan proposals were carried. Such gentlemen a$ Mr John Reid, Mr R. H. Smale, and Mr Allan are very emphatic in 'Nag© statements; yet these very /%men ihav.e jy.een either bin rers or rs +>keniselves °f blocks at very Sod price!* only *ece/i%, and they must know tJieir .statements are not ™wwvvf MoTe sections hiwe> been sold r, »«**> «!«%g. jg I years than ever ' i. . 7. factory prices and to hew peopio, as instance the large increase in the number of ratepayers. Councillors have given ratepayers a good indication of what is best to do; no sensible arguments have been used against it, and I trust a good meeting will be held to-night, where both sides can be plaoed before tihe public for itthem to. I consider and decide for themselves.

ED. PARKED