THE TEMUKA DRAINAGE SCHEME.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3768, 20 July 1901, Page 3

THE TEMUKA DRAINAGE SCHEME.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —At a sort of hole and corner meeting of a select few of the burgesses of Temuka on Monday night a resolution was passed to the effect that the Borough Council take steps to proceed to borrow money to carry out the above scheme. I would like to ask through your columns if the burgesses outside of the area specified are in any way responsible for the money proposed to be borrowed, and if so, can the Council legally borrow without the sanction of all the burgesses. We know that it is proposed to strike a special rate on the property that is to be benefited, and I believe that rata will be ample at present. But, if through any unforeseen casualty, it should become insufficient, would the rest of the. Borough be held responsible '! I havs no captions objection to the proposed drainage and water supply. I recognise that it is better to pay for improved sanitary conditions than to pay doctors and grave-Jiggers, but I do object to that part of the Borough which already enjoys the greatest privileges getting all attention, while the largest portion ia entirely neglected. In the west end there are twenty-one lamps to light six nr seven miles of streets, while in the east cud there are six lamps to light about eighteen miles of streets, lu the west end the footpaths are all nicely asphalted, iu the east end they are hardly foruu'd, and in wet weather people have to walk ankle deep in mud ia total darkness. We are confronted with the argument that the people in the west end are wealthier, and that their property is of more value. When a ricu man marries a poor woman he has to share his wealth with her, he is not allowed to Keep her hungry and in rags. It was Temuka that came a courting Arowhenna, and siuca 'he wedding we have got twice as much rates to pay, and have been deprived of what many considered a privilege that it was promised they would not be deprived of, and all wo ask is to be placed on a footing of equality. We are all in the Borough. One reason why property in the east end is not more valuable is because some of our wealthy west end neighbours have bought the best sections iu the east end for speculation, which they are holding unimproved. Rating on unimproved value would remedy that evil, and as I am not in the habit of writing often, as the pen is in my hand now, I would ask our worthy mayor to take proceedings to introduce rating on unimproved value.— I am, etc., Vox Populi.