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Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 140, 16 June 1913, Page 8

[to the editor.]

Sir,—The ratepayers of Blenheim are asked to speak their minds on the above scheme again on Wednesday next.j Now, Sir, is this really necessary?' Did they not, at the last poll, show that they would have none of it, so why is it foisted on them again? Is it not a battle between Councillors— the plungers versus the long-heads? The formei- tell us that the cost of the scheme to each of us will be from £d to the price of a packet of cigarettes poft week in interest; but of course the cost of the connections to the houses being a mere £40 or £50 is apparently not worthy of mention. Well, Sir, I am a "J-aere man," and . have watched the health of this town for the past 9 years, and there have been no serious epidemics of disease during that time, nor for as many years before as far as I can gather. First of all, how was this great scheme footed ? Some of our local mediooes told us that we were in for a great pestilence some day if we ' did not have a drainage scheme. Then again some of our worthy Councillors told our wives that we could have hot a<nd cold,.water out of one pip© for a.. £d per week, and our friends who retail "the stuff" at 6d per pot say that "it is the very thing" that is required, and straightaway subscribed £5 each; but what for! Was it to entertain the- navy men of H.M.S. New Zeoland? No, Sir, this was the initial ex-pense-incurred to receive the Navvy's Brigade which would be required to dig the famous trenches to bury £75,----000 worth of good iron pipes which would be required for this scheme. Now, in conclusion, I say let us live within our means, and adopt something sensible, namely the septic tank system, and a pure water supply from the Taylor if we are to have a supply at all; otherwise I think we should "go the whole hog" and have a permanent fire brigade, cows that would give sterilised milk, a refuse destructor, hot and cold baths, electric light, etc., all under municipal control. I am sure we would have no trouble in raising a loan for these few necessities.