"PROGRESS” IN WEST HARBOUR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22911, 19 June 1936, Page 18

"PROGRESS” IN WEST HARBOUR

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—As an cx-oouncillor of West Harbour I shall be pleased if you will allow mo space to reply to the letter of Mr T. C. Stewart, as published in your issue of this morning. , „ Whatever the opinion of Mr Stewart on the question of the Moller Memorial, hs has no right to impute that the present position of West Harbour in regard to public utilities is the fault of the past Mayors or councillors of the borough. I have in mind several projects instituted Ly nast administrators of the borough that entailed expense in' petting out estimates and laborious work on the part of councillors to endeavour to supply the public utilities mentioned by Mr Stewart, but when the people were told that probably there would be a small increase m their rates for these improvements they promptly turned down the proposals. Now, Sir, we cannot possibly hope to get something for nothing, even under the very best administration that could bp evolved, and I submit that it ib clue to the apathy of residents of West Harbour themselves that the present position obtains, as it is just a question for them to lay whether if they call the tune they are prepared to pay the piper. I would like to suggest to Mr Stewart that, if he cares to go to the trouble, even at the present time, to evolve some scheme for the betterment of the borough, he would find on submitting to the residents that if it meant' an increase in rates, which would be inevitable, then there would be “nothing doing.” I' would like to ask Mr Stewart whether, on the assumption that the residents would turn down any scheme if it meant increased rates, he would suggest that in this democratic age the present council should ignore tho ratepayers and go ahead in spite of the fact that an increase in the rates would be involved. I am. etc.. B. J. Tayt.or. ■Ravcnsbourne, June IS.