MR. FREDRIC'S ADVICE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 61, 17 March 1913, Page 8

MR. FREDRIC'S ADVICE.

(To the Editor Stratford Post.)

Sir, —Any view of the loan proposals is interesting, and I trust you car find space in your paper ior my views in the hope that they may be or use. In regard to the bridge lean of £6OOO, in my opinion this is a needless extravagance. The demand for this bridge appears to have been created by a few persons who have property in the vicinity of the bridge. There is no doubt that the present bridge will last for many years, and surely the town can wait until money can be more cheaply borrowed before going in for this luxury. A greater need is the bridging of all the streets which would perhaps increase the value of all the properties south rf the Patea. lam surprised it is not advocated as the effect (if any) of widening Victoria bridge will be felt only in the vicinity of the bridge, and will only benefit those having property in that neighbourhood, and it the £6OOO loan is caried is only meant that the bridging of the other streets is postponed for a very long time.

Re the £4OOO waterworks loan; The reticulation of the whole of the borough is a fair and commendable proposal, but it is a matter of common knowledge that there is not sufficient water in our present main to supply the reticulation we have at present. With reference to filters, this is entirely a fad. We have in: Stratford one of the purest, healthiest water supplies in New Zealand, ai flood time the water is certainly discoloured, but it has been proved that this discolouration is not injurious to health. Stratford is particularly free from epidemics arising from had water. The most urgent necessity of Stratford is a new water main. It is well known that if a fire occurred during a heavy gale we would not have sufficient pressure to subdue it. The Council can verify this statement by asking the Fire Brigade to report on the pressure registered when four or five leads of hose are taker; off the main. I would suggest the laying of a 12 or 14 inch main down the Pembroke Road from one of the streams in that direction. I understand that the borough could use the road without paying compensation, and probably could secure a little revenue from supplying water on this ■route. If the Council duplicated their present main I believe they have to pay fresh compensation. 1 trust that the ratepayers will not support the present proposal as the new main must come within a verv short time.

Everyone must admit that eacli partial drainage loan that is carried makes the carrying of the next one more difficult. People will not vote for others to have conveniences if it is going to increase their own rates without showing them some advantage, and I hope that the present proposal will get no support. What is required of the Council is a proposal to drain the whole of the borough; not necessarily to spend the money at once, but to obtain power to raise the whole of the money. The proposal before the ratepayers is only for part of the town, and is not fair to those parts which are not included in the present drainage scheme. The 20,000 loan for street improvement is too large at the present time, when interest is so high, and most of the items in the schedule are not in urgent need for the expenditure of large sums. That Broadway from Seyton Street to Opunako Road, also the most important side streets and some of the thickly populated back streets, require improving, is undeniable, but the back streets where there is very little traffic require such a -large amount spent on them for maintenance each year that it seems a waste of money to form them at the present time. It is common knowledge that a good part of the rates are wasted each year in the cutting of grass on the back street footpaths where the traffic is not great. T would like to suggest here that as the streets of Stratford are too wide and would cost such a lot of money to metal full width, could not each side be fenced, ploughed, grassed and planted with suitable trees? I am sure that this would reduce the dust nuisance and also lighten the cost of maintenance, and in time Stratford would become one of the ir>>st picturesque towns in New Zealand. In conclusion, the bridge loan is an expensive luxury; the water loan has not the right ob-

i ject; the drainage loan is not complete enough; and the street improvement scheme is too vast and unnecessary. If the loans are carried the rates will bo nearly trebled, and also the cost of maintenance will be very greatly increased, and these a rev matters for consideration for each ratepayer.—l am, etc ,

J. FREDRIC Stratford, March 17th.