The Waipawa Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1917. CURRENT TOPICS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 7918, 14 August 1917, Page 2

The Waipawa Mail. TUESDAY, AUGUST 14, 1917. CURRENT TOPICS.

A Vexed Question. In the trivialities of debate which hedged the discussion on the rubbish, question at Friday night’s meqfcing of the Borough 'Council the main point at issue was almost lost sight of. It is not a question as to whether the monthly system of removal has or has not had a fair trial, whether there is or is not an undercurrent- at work, or whether councillors are justified in changing their opinions. The crux of the whole question lies in the point as to whether a system of monthly removal of household rubbish is sufficient in the interests of health apd sanitation. With all due deference to the Council we submit that it is not sufficient, and the fact that the petition asking that the Council’s decision be reviewed was signed by the two medical men resident in the town gives y support to the contention. As Crs. Bibby and Rathbone pointedly stated, this borough has enjoyed an enviable reputation for cleanliness, and it would be a pity if that reputation were jeopardised on the score of economy. One of the first duties of a Council is to safeguard the health of the community, to protect the. cleanly householders against the carelessness and negligence of the uncleanly, and we maintain that a system which allows household refuse to accumulate, in close proximity to dwellings, for a month is wrong in principle and detrimental to public health.

Question of Payment. Point was made, during the discussion, of the fact that the petitioners’ did not express their willingness to pay for an improved system. That was hardly fair. The petitioners merely protested against the new. system and urged’ the Council to re-open the question at the earliest possible moment. It was not for the petitioners to suggest an alternative scheme. That is for the Council. Ratepayers have no option when the Council impose additional taxation but to pay up and look as pleasant as possible. It is the ratepayer’s privilege. But whoever heard of a petition asking for an increase of 1 rates? Of the councillors who voted on the issue on Friday night four, who all contribute largely to the borough rates, expressed their willingness to pay for a satisfactory system, and these four may surely be taken as representing a very considerable portion of the voting population. It is not a question of any body of men wanting to “run the town.” The action of the petitioners was prompted solely and merely by a desire to safeguard the health af the borough, and for that reason alone we sincerely hope that the matter will be revived. However undesirable the monthly system may be in the winter months, it will be intensified a hundredfold when the hot weather sets in. H.B. War Relief Association.

A suggestion is likely to come forward at the next meeting of the Hawke’s Bay War Relief Association for the removal of the headquarters of the Association from Napier to Hastings. In the. interests of economy of administration the proposal has much to recommend it. At present the Association is paying a secretary £2OO a year for looking after the Association’s business. The Hastings branch is paying its secretary £l5O for similar work] Why cannot the two offices be amalgamated, especially in view of the fact that the Napier Patriotic Society refuses to affiliate with the Association. It would mean a saving of at least £IOO a year, allowing the secretary a salary of £250. That £IOO capitalised would release a considerable sum for the purpose for which the money was subscribed. The suggested alteration would also make for more efficient administration and less overlapping.

Industries for Soldiers. When demobilisation comes employment will have to be found for a very large number of our (soldiers. A goodly percentage will no doubt avail themselves of the opportunities to take up land, but there will be many who, by reason of injuries received in .the war, will be unable tcf follow the strenuous life breaking in a farm entails. For these suitable industries will haw to be found. The Auckland Patriotic Association is setting a commendable example in the proposal to establish a school in which to train returned soldiers as apprentices to bootmaking. The Government, which professes to do so much for the return-

’d men and in reality is doing so little, refused an application for a grant of £1450 to provide the necessary equipment. The manufacturers are now to be asked to provide £SOO and the Association will provide £250, and on this £750 the Government will give £ for £ subsidy. It is stated that six months’ training with the machines will enable the men to earn a living wage, and there is plenty of scope for the development of the industry, seeing that some £400,000 of footwear is imported annually.