BOROUGH COUNCIL EXTRAVAGANCE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 145754, 13 February 1917, Page 4

BOROUGH COUNCIL EXTRAVAGANCE.

TO THE EDITOR. I Sir, —I Irish to raise a vigorous protest through your columns at the proposed expenditure of a large sum by tho borough in a totally unnecessary work. I refer to the proposal to regrado Carrington Hoad. At the present juncture and position of finance and tho labour market it is simply 'criminal. All public works that are not absolutely urgent should bo shelved till the war is concluded, both the money and the work will be urgently needed then for the returning thousands. There is not tho slightest necessity to provide work for the huge staff of officials and workers, especially by tho expenditure of borrowed money at high interest. A holiday for, say, 50 per cent, of them till the war is over would bo no hardship and might do something to relieve the pressure on the labour market, and also slow down the ever-increasing raxes. Tho Borough Council, as constituted at present, appears to be obsessed with the Idea that unless it is scattering borrower} money broadcast with both hands, and its eyes shut, the town is not progressing.—l am. etc.. SUFFERING RATEPAYER. [The work was authorised a long time ago by tho ratepayers, and the money borrowed. The improvement is also very necessary, for the piece of road in question is the worst graded and the most dangerous in the T.H.]