IS IT JUSTIFIABLE?

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17478, 24 January 1919, Page 4

IS IT JUSTIFIABLE?

We recognisf that every question has two sides, each of v.hich may seem "he better to quite a number of people. Some ratepayers perhaps are convinced t;hatt th© Borough Council's proposals are quite sound. Others —and we hope they are in the majority —hold an opposite opinion. For ourselves, w e ore firmly; convinced the proposal io purchase the Alexander property is ill-tam_ «vJ and unsound. The derfructor proposalj on the other hand, has something to commend it, though we regret that' the Council should have mad^ a proposal which is really only tinkering with the question. So far as the Alexander property is concerned, we can h es nothing to commend it, no matter from what point of view it is regarded. The property anay possibly be a good " rich man's spec." Be that as it may, tlia Borough is not in the position of a rich man who can afford to speculate on the chance of making good in the future. Outside of speculation, TheBorough Council seems to have absoL.iely no justification *or its proposal »o purchase -the property. It already possesses excellent sites for Town Hall, Munioipal Buildings, and oth^r purposes. It is'not so long ago that His Worship ihe Mayor outlined an admirable scheme fox the utilisation cf Queen's Park for a Supreme/ Court site, but his proposal was rendered .iseless by the greed of the Justice Department. However tfliat may be r the fjiot remains that the reserve is jusc a*s available now as it was then. We understand %at the Council is Tinable to'utilise a doniain as a site for municipal buildings, but more important legislation than thait has been altered in th© interests of public welfare. So far as the Alexander loan is concerned, the money proposed to be spent on the purchase of the property—and that will have increased to many thousands extra before the time is ripe for The j erection .jof 'he buildings mentioned — would he much better ttero't'ed to the buildings themselves. But it is futile to discuss ihe nnanciaJ aspect of question. The Borough at -the present ■moment cannot afford inj spend' twopence on unnecessary work. No doubt the war and other things have been iesponsible to a largo extent!, but there is no blinking the fact that the town is in. a bad state, kok at. the matter how one will. The ratepayers are fortunate in hr.ving ea*pable officers ~u charge- of affairs, but the lack of fun Is has crippled them. Our streets are hi ?* deplorable s'nte, and their lighthi£ poor; our Mater supply is inadequate; and our reserves ar© practically unai-

•tended to. It is unpleasant to say iliese things, buit " facts are chiels that ninna ding." A big expenditure is necessary to bring our gttree-ts, resei'veSj and general utilities to a state, worthy of our town. Until these things are done the Council should net a,?k the ratepayers *o embark on needless ex-

pendlture