CRAZY COUNCILLORS.

NZ Truth, Issue 57, 21 July 1906, Page 8

CRAZY COUNCILLORS.

Sanitary Committee's Insane Proposal.

The horrific imbecility which characterises the doings of the Christchurch City Council continues to be a matter of contemptuous comment. Ridicule has been ladled out to them by the bushel last week over a perfectly simple matter,- which they haven't^ the nous to comprehend ; and a public movement is understood to be on foot, or on horsebackj to present eaph of these sagacious Solons with a sheep's head apiece, m token of their unparalleled intelligence, and all that sort of refuse. The Sanitary Committee 'actually came down, with a proposal the other night that Godley's Statue, which occupies such a prominent position m Cathedralsquare, should be removed m order to make room for a urinal. In the alternative it was suggested that the urinal ibe erected, and Godley's statue be placed on top. Good God ! No wonder townspeople are laughing at the beautiful cap;icity possessed by this precious Sanitary Committee for purposes of municipal government. At the outset the public laughed consumedly at the suggestion, but when they fully realised what the true effect o£ it would be they were absolutely amazed and scandalised at the monstrous idea. To place the Statue of Godley— Godley who did so much far Canterbury, and whose name is so revered — over a public urinal would be a piece of outrageous vandalism that would never be tolerated. That a convenience of the .kind is required there is admitted, but the goodygoody crowd would hate to see it m front of the Cathedral, Godley 's Statue will have to stand where it is. The proposed urinal can easily be placed underground, of course, but the excuse— a flagrantly paltry excuse— is that it will cost a few bob extra. There isn't any appreciable difficulty about the question but it is trumpery matters of this sort that beat the

Council out of sight. Another trouble which these Councillors have just struck — and only just struck— is that the city electrical installation badly wants increasing. That was patent long ago, but although more light is very badly wanted, they dropped the scheme for the purchase of the Gas Company's biz. like a piece of red-hot iron, and the company continues to pay divs. at -the community's expense, for they could easily make it their own. property. Also, they dropped the Waimakariri river harnessing scheme for tne purpose of obtaining electrical power— in factthey are the greatest lot of droppers on earth, and now that the engineer hits them on their joint and several face with a statement that they have come to the end of their tether m regard to lighting supply, and that the rope might break, they gas m a; sore and sorry way as to what power fhould. be obtained to make a new nstallation. This writer suggests horse power m a- perfectly amiable spirit ; -it might cost something m horse shoes, certainly,, but it would possess the beautiful merit of being unique, and the old iron would come m handy for ratepayers to fling at Councillors when they weren't looking. The only' other power available m order to obtain a new power is the power possessed by the erectors to kick the addlepated Council out on its ear. • ■ - .' /,'■■. '