WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1938. The District's Public Works

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 175, 27 July 1938, Page 4

WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1938. The District's Public Works

Of the vast public works expenditure scheduled for the current .financial year this district will receive comparatively a small quota. Tho Manawatu district, including both rural and urban areas, accounts for about one-twentieth of the Dominion’s population. In contemplating tho works scheduled, a “parish pump” viewpoint should bo deprecated. Works should be carried through, here and elsewhere, as needs dictate. Although much cause has been found to criticise the present Government’s public works policy in general, no serious criticism can be made of this district’s schedule. Considered nationally, this year’s Estimates provide for a public works expenditure that is dangerously extravagant. Furthermore, a great number of works are promised or proposed that cannot be justified either on grounds of economy or real needs. Within the city of Palmerston North two major building constructions are budgeted for. The Post Office and the Police Station, both necessary works; £20,000 is provided for each. Another work on which opinions differ is the railway deviation. The city stands both to lose and gain from the project, but the progress both of the city itself and the business of the railways makes the removal of the station inevitable. It is estimated that £746,000 will be required to complete this work. Of a surety the city would never cany out this deviation had it to pay out even a fifth of the cost directly, but the magic phrase, “Consolidated Fund,” removes all thought of cost. For the current year £BO,OOO is provided for our deviation, which should provide employment for close on 200 men. Throughout the district generally no large votes are to be expended. To the boroughs and counties numerous small grants are made, also to drainage boards. One of the larger sums is £7500 for the Ashhurst-Woodville road running over the Kuahines, the smallness of the vote indicating rather slow progress. Two sums of £6200 and £3OOO are provided for sand-dune reclamation, from. Holdo to Tangimoana. It is evident that the forestry possibilities of the sand-dune country are not yet appreciated. “ A Poem Lovely as a Tree ” The so-called “improvements scheme’’ being undertaken in the Square gardens is the subject of widespread and, in a measure, justifiable protests from citizens. Many of these protests are couched in strong terms, indicating how deeprooted is the love of trees in the hearts of the people. A considerable time ago the Coleman Place corner of the Square was ‘'opened up.” Now a similar operation is being carried out on the north-eastern comer. For the moment the portion opposite the Public Library provides a scene of desolation to sadden the heart of any person with an appreciation of nature. The plan being followed apparently is to remove all shrubs and trees from the Square and to lay out the whole vast space in fiat, formal garden beds. Whether twenty acres of eannas, roses and antirrhinums spaced by severely-mown lawns and asphalted pathways will be of more beauty than tree-protected gardens is a matter of taste. On that point we are of opinion that the majority of citizens will feel that the present trend is not in keeping with the wise administration and high artistic standards which have in recent years earned for Palmerston North the title of the “Garden City.” Fears are expressed that the present policy might, unless checked, result in the Square being transformed into a too barren wind-swept rectangle surrounded by buildings with little to break the view and less to break the force of the winds. Fears have been expressed that even the magnificent trees by the rural bus stand may go. Is the council not providing some justification for such fears in the face of the present policy? Apart altogether from the beauty of trees and shrubs, have the council failed to remember the tricks played by the climate in this city? Surely tho recent winds should call to their memory the experience of business people and shoppers in the days before the trees provided protection as well as ornament. What shelter will a bed of zinnias provide? Cut down the sheltering trees and shrubs and the Square will be unbearable in windy weather, which means for nearly half the year. Realising that our councillors give yeoman service gratuitously to the city, and that our curator has made our gardens famous, criticism of this kind is not lightly undertaken,but in expressing these views we are giving voice to the very widespread protests of tree-lovers.