THE CHIMING CLOCK.

Waikato Independent, Volume V, Issue 320, 5 January 1907, Page 5

THE CHIMING CLOCK.

TO THE EDITOR. Sib, —To me your article on the clock tower, etc., is a most extraordinary production. A new post-office was a necessity, and such being the case, the citizens of the town had a right to agitate for a new one, and the Government could do no lesslihan grant their reasonable request. It was only right that we should get' a good serviceable structure, in which the work of the departments could be carried out decently, and which would be up to the requirements of a growing town and district, but more than that we had no right to ask, and the Postmaster General no right to grant. The spending of £llOO on a tovyer and clock is “ everything considered,” nothing short of criminal waste of public money. To my way of thinking a man who buys himself a gold ring to wear on his finger, when he owes money to his butcher and baker, etc., or whose wife and children want for anything, is little short of a criminal. So Councillors who vote £IOO of ratepayers’ money for an extravagant ornament for a thing to look at “ for showj” or so that we can crow over some sister town, when we have a large overdraft and want Technical Schools, and public baths that our youths of both sexes can be taught to swim, and while our roads are in the state they are, miles of footpath to put in order for the winter, and other wants and engagements too numerous to mention, are utterly wrong, and not progressive, but extravagant and criminally wasteful, and those who so voted if they do whs.t is right, will reconsider their action, call a special meeting and rescind its resolution. My opinion of a Government that will waste £BOO and incite us to waste £3OO when they will only grant us a paltry hundred or'two for a Technical School, and when all round, people in the back blocks are asking and begging for schools that their children may have some of the advantages that we have, is unprintable. It is sometimes difficult to understand my fellow men. A while ago an effect was made to get a Technical School for Cambridge, a truly patriotic cause, something that would greatly assist our district and the whole colony, patriotic indeed; and what was our success ? We collected after a desperate effort, £llO, mostly given by.local bodies ; no citizens rushing forward with their £lO and £5, no special meeting of the Council, anxious to give £IOO. ISTo fear, “ No, Sir.” Like school boys looking in a fancy goods window, they spend all they have on some useless toy, while books, ink pencils, and other utilities lay neglected before them.—l am, etc., Frank O’Toole. P.S. —If the Council and people of Cambridge find the £3OO and the Government keeps its promise then the argument in favor of the top site becomes unanswerable. To build a tower to please the eye and clock to charm the ear in a hole where they could not be seen or heard by all, to the best advantage, would be the greatest folly of all, and would not have my support.—F.O’T. THE FARMERS AND THE CHIMING CLOCK. (TO THE EDITOR.) Sir, —The question of the new clock for the Posb Office was discussed at Fencourt Creamery this morning, and some annoyance was expressed at the statement made at the Council meeting that the farmers would not contribute towards the cost. One farmer that he will gladly give 10s, provided the Post Office is put on the site of the old saleyards near the National Hotel. The writer will also gladly contribute on the same terms. The Council need not expect contributions from farmers or others nob residing in the borough if the Post Office is to be down in the hole where the present one stands, but if placed on the high ground where it would be an ornament to the district and whence the chimes of the clock could be heard on still evenings for miles round, I am sure the farmers would contribute liberally.— 1 am, etc., Farmer. Fencourt, 4th January, 1907.