Public Opinion

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 106, 6 May 1929, Page 6

Public Opinion

MR. BIGNELL’S COMPLAINT

Sir, —It is rather naive of Mr Bignell to complain of your report of his meeting. Perhaps his reason for complaint was that the particular portion of his speech referring to my challenge was not published on the morning of the election, too late for me to reply I have heard from several present of his allusions to this matter and 1 will now ask Mr Bignell to publish his references to my challenge. My did Mr Bignell wait until the night before the election to give its speocn and mention this matter when he had the data 14 days before. Why did he get that data, and what is in it?

Has he mot any of the many statements made by writer at Monday’s meeting, when date, paper and authority, was quoted. “These were not reported Sir, they would have taken columns and I could not expect them to be reported In consequence. But 1 did not complain P. HIGGINBOTTOM. May 4, 1929. COUNTY ELECTIONS The County electors of Wanganui and Waitotara will bo called upon of Wednesday next to vote for representatives on Wanganui Harbour Board. What is tho attitude of the County ratepayers? Their lands are pledged for the interest on tho £600,000 already spent. Are they prepared to have their lands pledged for a further sum without knowing how it is going to be spent. What has been the attitude of their present representatives. Mostly a silent confirmation of the autocracy of tho chairman of the Board who by reason of this silent majority ignores those city members who have tried to get some control and some benefits from the money expended. If the county electors want a careful scrutiny of expenditure and their interests watched they must either vote for the new candidate or pledge the old ones to a change in the chairmanship JOHN PLOWMAN. May 4, 1929. LADIES’ REST SITE fiir, —It is time something was said by oue of the women who have used and been very glad of the present, rest-room. Concerning the site of the new rest-room the Rotarians are, of course, to be commended on the interest they take in the subject; but in view of the fact that none of them arc ever reduced to walking about with weary feet, pushing a perambulator and with two children walking beside a;-k--ing at intervals for a ride because they are so tired, I really think they aro not qualified to decide where the si’.e should be. It really does not matter how gorgeous the building is if it away from tho shopping area, as tired women do not want to step out with all their impedimenta another hundred yards or so to get to a grander building. Their rest may not be for many minutes but it is important ti at they get it. The present site is the best place in Wanganui and can be entered straight away without the smallest possible amount of fatigue. Seeing that the buildings adjacent to the present rest are not rushed by clients why not enlarge the presort building? 1 consider the first reason for a Ladies’ Rest, which is a harbour of refuge for women, and child-en, should be near the trams and near the shops. Tho present position j 9 sne from which any tram can be entered and shopping done in the last available minute. A Ladies’ Rest room is not a new club, which its members approach in motor cars. I hope sincerely for the sake of tired mothers the present site will continue to be ase i. "TIRED”

WANGANUI HARBOUR BOARD Sir, —As I am a candidate for the Wanganui Harbour Board (representing the Wanganui County) the ratepayers would like to know what my views are on the harbour. I am in favour of keeping the river channel open up to the town wharf in a proper condition so that our coastal steamers can trade at all times right up to the town wharf and so save second handling of cargo and keep the charges as low as possible, as I believe that to be in. the interests of our trade to our port. To do that we must have suitable plant for sucn development and maintenance. The present Board has mo such plant. In fact they have wasted the moneys on a useless dredge that is doing work for other harbours, but can’t do anything for tho advancement of the Wanganui Harbour. If that is so, why not sell I the dredge, and get an up-to-date one, one that can do the work satisfactorily and go right over the bar and deposit the spoil in the sea and keep the channel open at all times? The Harbour Board has also a white elephant because there is nothing for it to do. I know it has done one job but is that sufficient to satisfy the ratepayers for the outlay in respect to the tug. Depreciation is going on all the time, and in a very few .years the tug will be useless and the purchase money accordingly i s at absolute waste. seems to me that the present Board has put the cart before the horse. As to the turning basin at Castlccliff, before any good can come of it, will have a lock-gate in front—that is at the entrance, so as to keep tho mud out which accumulates with every flood that comes down the Wanganui River. The lock-gate in all probability will cost about £70.000 before the turning basin would be of any value. The Harbour Board has spent £600,000 in trying to get deep water on the bar but even after that expenditure the depth on the bar to-day is no greater than it was 20 years ago for the simple reason the bar has followed the moles out and is likely to do so. What i 8 the use of asking the ratepayers for a loan of £200,000 when the very least which should be is £600,000? Can the city and districts stand a rate for such an amount? I maintain they cannot at the present time. It would mean that all property values in the city and districts would considerably depreciate. For this reason 1 am opposed to any Joan at present. As to homo liners —whrvf would the producers benefit if the homo liners were berthed at Castlecliff? Would they get their produce taken away any cheaper. I maintain they would not oven to the extent of one penny and they would have to pay & heavy rate.

We have sent all our produce on board tho home liners for the last 30 years successfully and we can go on doing so until surh time as we can get them in without overburdening the ratepapers with a heavy rate. D. ROSS 29/4/1929.