CORPORATION AND DRAINAGE BOARD.
Tiif, ratepayers will note with somo concern that the two important local bodies which liavo t-ho privilege of spending their money, the City Council and tlio Drainage Board, appear to bo involved in, or on the verge of, another of those petty squabbles that are entirely out ol place between authorities jointly responsible for t-ho welfares of the city in certain vital aspects. Such an inference, at least, is justified' from the report of the proceedings at this week's meeting of the Drainage Hoard, when a letter froir the Town Clerk 'was mado the subject of various uncomplimentary references. We do not wish to suggest that tlio Drainage Board is unduly sensitive* or that tho Council is unduly dictatorial or tactless in presuming to indicate to the Board where its duty lies. Wherever the responsibility rests, the result is the same and detrimental to the interests of the city. Tiiero have recently been various instances in which the Corporation and t-ho Drainage authorities have been working directly at cross-purposes. We are glad to -see that members of tho Drainage Board admit tho force of tlio reminder that the two bodies ought to work in harmony, and it is for the members of that body and of tho City Council alike to see to it that harmonious co-operation does characterise their respective undertakings wherever these impingo one upon tho other. Such co-operation will never be achieved unless the officials responsible to each body keep' the same end in view, and evince ft disposition to meet each other halfway aJid in a spirit of which, there is no abundant evidence at present-. The portation into their offioial communications of expressions calculated to produce and accentuate friction and strained relations between the two bodies is to be regarded with disapproval no matter what the circumstances, and wo trust that such a practice will not be encouraged. If there is any real reason why tho City Council and the Drainage Board cannot conduct their respective operations in perfect harmony members of either body will do tlio community a service in its discovery and removal.
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Bibliographic details
Otago Daily Times, Issue 14582, 22 July 1909, Page 6
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354CORPORATION AND DRAINAGE BOARD. Otago Daily Times, Issue 14582, 22 July 1909, Page 6
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