ISLAND BAY AFFAIRS

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9692, 21 June 1917, Page 5

ISLAND BAY AFFAIRS

To the Editor "N.Z. Times.' Sir, —No doubt many of your readers, who take an interest in island Bay, would like to know that the annual meeting of the Island Bay Municipal Ratepayers' Association rakes place this evening, June 21st, at St. Hilda's Schoolroom, when the. executive of the association will give an account of their agings during the past twelve months. At a time like the present, when su many matters of interest to Island Bay have to be' considered, it would seem to be the duty of residents to attend the meeting and take a lively interest in what is being done—or left undone-. I hoar on good authority that the meeting is likely to be a lively one, as some of the residents fear that the association has not made itself sufficiently active in various matters, more especially as regards the question of the fishing industry and those connected with it. It has been gathered from various items that have appeared lately in the newspapers that efforts are being made to have a permanent fishing industry established at the Bay, with the various works-connected with that industry—such as freezing and smoking fish—manufacture of manure from the fish offal, etc., and it behoves all the residents of the bay to see that immediate action is taken to prevent the Wellington City Council from desecrating the foreshore by allowing such buildings as would be necessary to carry out the industry from being erected anywhere on this beach or where they would be an annoyance to the residents. One of the objects of the Eatepayers' ■Association was, I believe, to beautify and protect the beach from vandalism of any sort, and the meeting to-night will no doubt pronounce with no uncertain voice what steps should be taken by the association to compel the City Council to respect (he wishes of the ratepayers, and to give Island Bay a square deal. It is said ''comparisons are odious"— still I must ask the people of 'Wellington to pay Lyall Bay and Island Bay a visit and to draiv a comparison as to the monev spent by the City Council at the former at the expense of the latter. With vour kind permisHon T hope to enlighten the general public Inter on o-; to the treatment of Island Bay ralepayers bv the Citv Council.—l am, etc.. kesii>j:xt.