REJECTED!

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 143, 19 June 1913, Page 4

REJECTED !

The ratepayers of the borough of Blenheim have now definitely repudia-

ted the/water-supply and sewerage scheme for the carrying-out of which they authorised, some two years ago, a loan of £65,000. On that occasion 526 Votes were cast in favor of the loan, and 390 against, the majority in favor being 136; yesterday 487 ratepayers signified their objection to the contihua-nce of the scheme, while 396 were in its favor, the project being thus defeated' by 91 votes. Taking the two polls, a total of 922 votes has been cast in favor of water and sewerage, and 877 against; so that it will readily be seem that opinions have been fairly evenly divided. The arguments for and against the scheme •have been published in full detail during the past few weeks, so there is no need to-day to traverse them again. As far as we are able to judge, the majority of the ratepayers are agreed that an up-to-date water and sewerage service would be in the best interests of the town; but they have declared against the scheme adopted by the Borough Council, either because in their opinion it is not up-to-date, or because the benefits which would accrue from its installation would not be commensurate with the cost. Those who looked forward to the early accomplishment of the scheme must be content to make the best of what they consider a bad job, and await the first favorable opportunity of bringing the question forward again, putting up with present conditions as cheerfully as possible in the meantime. There is one matter, however, which we consider must not be allowed to remain as it is, and that is the question of the disposal of nightsoil. The time has come when the Borough Council should take over this business, and should pass a by-law prohibiting householders from disposing of nightsoil other than according to the manner provided for in that by-law. The installation of the sealed-pan system should also be made compulsory. With these improved methods of sanitation Blenheim will have to be content for some time to come, until the ratepayers see fit to authorise a •larger scheme on the lines of that which they rejected .at yesterday s poll.