THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 12393, 1 July 1902, Page 3

THE DRAINAGE BOARD.

TO TIIK ' EDITOR. Sin,—A person signing as "Ratepayer" in your columns of tho 24th inst. is not po.uesiwd of t!ir> judicial mind assumed. "Working Man" is accused of selfishness. "Samtas'' i» similarly uccuscd, but representing an opposite extreme. Sir, I nm of opinion that "Ratepayer'' is assisting " Working Man," tho latter having got into serious trouble in opposing " Sanitns" on the question of day-work versus contract work.. Before proceeding far with thoso notes it will Ite shown that "Ratepayer" has a fault more serious than selfishness—namely, blindness. His object, liowcvor, in writing is to support tho policy adopted by tho Drainago Board; and it is ronlly surprising to noto tho amount of misrepresentation crowded into his letter. Along with a profession of unselfishness, hot only tho board, but also tho personnol of tho board, is the subject of his unqualified admiration. It should bo borne in mind tliat the bulk of t'fie board's business is dono in committco,

' and only condensed reports reach your 1 I columns of business done in open meeting. On that account, such a. formal report ai that statement of policy must of necessity run the gauntlet of public examination anil discussion. That capable men constitute the board t am not prepared to question, unless your correspondent " Ratepayer" bo ono of them. Such a aiftod contortionist, as shown by his marvellous ability of blowing hot and cold on contractors, wonkl prove ft serious handicap on tho remaining seven members. Jl'u proposition that a ring of contractors confd bo formed in Dunedin to fleece tho ratepayers out of £100,000 h proof that a residence of 20 years has taught "Ratepayer" nothing. At question-lwgginp "Ratepayer" in an adept. He say* the citizens aro to congratulate themselves .m the possession of an engineer who line tlio forethought and oxporience' to see what points are to lie provided against so that lie may secure good and cheap work for his board, and who) lias, at liio mine time, the zeal to voluntarily suggest a means of avoiding this, oven though that means must bring him an immense amount of irksome and harassing labour, etc.. ctc. The ratepayers of Dunedin and suburbs will not, I am sure, be lulled into a feeling of security liy such plausiblo Ktatemonts. The engineer, who is well qualified, ought to be fully occupied in attending to his own department, for, whilo standing high in his profession, lie may yet be without the qnalities which make an entirely successful contractor. Specialisation in the main factor in progressive society, for as it is niopt effcctivo and 1 economical, the community is in that way cnrichcd, while, at tho same time, tho 1 desorving contractor is mutably remunerated. Prices being kept at a fair standard by pnblio competition, such a method would ■ bo above suspicion, and in this instance tho • irksome and harassing labour, to the engineer ' would bo avoided, and billot-hunting, which ; is the great feature of this colony, would rcocive a wcll-desorvcd Cheek,—l am, etc,, Sakitas. Dunedin, June 28.