WITHER PAW PROJECT

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 286, 3 December 1915, Page 6

WITHER PAW PROJECT

THE FORTHCOMING POLL

CONSIDERATIONS- FOR. THE

RATEPAYERS

"A SHILLING A YEAR,"

"What is the position in regard to the forthcoming poll on the quesltion of acquiring a portion of the Wither Run for the purposes of v public park?" was asked by Councillor. Cooke at the meeting of the Borough Council last night. Supposing, he said, thatt the proposal, re- ; jectecis formerly, wasl carried on the present, "occasion—as he , hoped: it, would be—would the decision b& final? The point had been put to him by .a number of ratepayers, and he had to-.admit that he was unable to give a definite answer. One opponent of 'the pr^ect told him that if it succeeded he would claim the taking- of still another ijoIL Would he have that right? ■•.-•-., \ The Mayor said he hoped that the majority in favor of the fine opportunity being offered to the municipalty* would be- so overwhelming that , any speculation of this kind would entirely be disposed of. Councillor Oooke ' pressed for a. more definite indication. The Mayor said he took it that the matter rested with the Council. It would be for the Council to say whether a request- for still another poll should be complied with or declined. If any Councillor chose to more in such a direction the motion would be dealt with in the usual way. . The Mayor went on to say that while he was on the subject he might as well go »i little further and remark what distorted views some people took of certain calls made on them to do their part as ratepayers. For instance this Council itself had chosen to reflect on the Hospital ° Board's efforts to provide the district with an up-to-date hospital. Now, the fact was that a man would have to be worth £7000 before he would be charged £5 a year for the hospital and charitable aid work ! As for the. Wither Him proposal, it might cost the average rateoayer the tremendous sum of one shilling a year for the time being—not' more! Considering what a valuable possession the Council was being offered, its prospective value and its 'meaning to the community for all time, he was quite at a loss to understand why some people should work themselves up into such a passion for the sake of one shilling ;>. year. .It was not right to blame su«h legitimate and deserving public objects as these for any general ■i.r> crease that rHtrht occur" in the ra-tes: it was wrong to retard the development -rS <.t-,.i town "Tiri district on the blind pHrdp.k* of being I anguish the rates whntpver shape or ] form they took. Erse'i prnrvopni broaeht forward r'hrmV] h™ considered ■; on its merits. T To I>M hfavd that | f'O'ne ppople w-ov" pm'tig to run ] ivotor-ears on ivlVtii r'r-v .°nd exhaust %i nil their UMmin^v tn rlnfpat the j Withor Park nvn.Vpt. Well, .nil h* { cop Id w. v to tl>~rr : wn« ihnt if thpy I sheds they wonld rsiv-p-enough nptrol \ on that- one day to n«v +l-iei>- charges lon the proposed nark for the next ' threes or four years.