TEMUKA MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20928, 6 January 1938, Page 9

TEMUKA MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS

To the Editor of “ The Timaru Herald

Sir, —Now that the Queen Carnival Is over, and the final act in the drama will be the pooling of the funds, which you state in your report of the carnival at Temuka will amount .to approximately £B2O, as a ratepayer of many years I would like to know how the Domain Board intends to spend their portion, roughly £273. I am given to understand that it is intended to erect a glasshouse somewhere in the Domain. In this connection, I would like to point out that vandalism is not altogether unknown in Temuka. For some considerable time, we had the spectacle of seeing the northern aspect of what was once a beautiful grandstand maliciously destroyed by vandals reducing the glassware (which was paid out of public funds) to a veritable eyesore. Now I would like to be informed as to the exact position the Board Intend to place their glasshouse, as this is of paramount importance; otherwise it will be, like the glass side of the grandstand—simply a “cockshy” for vandals of the night-prowling order. The idea of a glasshouse is a good one, but its ultimate location will have to be very carefully considered. While on the subject of our Domain, I would like, sir, with your permission, to draw a little comparison with the position that obtains now when compared with that of a few years ago. We have often seen it reported in your paper “that the Domain is looking in splendid order, a wealth of colour.” and so forth. In my opinion it ought to be so when one takes into account the number of men employed there, while the outlying portions of the borough are left practically to look after themselves. A few years ago the caretaker of the Domain had to do the job with very little assistance. Contrast that with the position now, when it was no uncommon sight recently to see quite a number of men (and some of these highly paid men under the No. 13 Scheme) at various jobs like driving a one-horse roller and hoeing weeds —work that could be easily done by returned soldiers. As far as I can see the writing on the wall indicates a decided change in the personnel of the Borough Council, which is long overdue. Although the municipal elections are a few months off, it is up to the ratepayers to combine and put those in office who are pledged to support the progress of the borough as a whole and not confine their energies to those portions ot the borough in which their own Interests are concerned. Unless this is done, Temuka will always remain a back number.—l am, etc., RATEPAYER. Temuka, January 5.