THE MAYOR'S VIEWS.

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

THE MAYOR'S VIEWS.

T. 119 Mayor has accepted an offer Jo . reply briefly to the criticisms in tljhe foregoing letters. The scheme for building a Town Hall in Queen's Park (as suggested, by Mr Ansconibe) was not proceeded with for two reasois. . Jn the first place, there was hardly sufttr t cienb room for the buildings to be erected, and in tlie second there were legai difficulties in the way.., The law did not \ allow municipal Bui'dings I© l>e erected in a public domain, although special provision is made for the erection of a Museum or Art Gallery. It is not s\}ggested .to build a separate theatre and Town Hall, but one building, w.hic;i will serve both purposes. As to whether the rates had increased during his ■term of office, could anyone with any intelligence compar e the conditions! of 1906 with ithotse of 1918? In that'period th«e increased price of wages am! material would amply account for the increased cost of municipal government. But in addition, during that period vast public works, such as the new bridge, tfihe Taylorville Bank, and drainage and water extensions, had been carried out. These returne^ no revenue, but added thousands to the annual charges on the Borough funds. He pitied anyone so unprogressive as to grudge paying liis share towards these improvements. The expenditure in every oorough in the Dominion had increased greatly during tfce same period, and the. official fig: ures would efoow that the proportional increase,in Wanganui was lower tKan the average. As to'the increaseVin valuation, the Council had no cdntrolover that. Th? best comment on the position was 'that every ratepayer had the right, to, object, to the valuation! Since Mr Watt's appointment as valuer* fe,w had done so, arid in stillfewer capes had the objection been maintained, jy th© courts. (JThis correspondent's accuracy could hs tested ov hW inference to Mr Ha trick's being :'turned out"4-:. (in point of fact,, he resign-ed to go te Eng'and)—and his statement'tlmf'the . Boioughhasi 17 acres at the-tiam-slied*. In point of fa^t, the area of Borough , land by the tranijshecls is fcur acses, and a great part of this will ..probab.lv-.' soon I>9" iv.iuiml for a destructor "sit* ox tensions to train sheds, etc. •--■-■-•'•..