Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1902. THE GAS LOAN CONTROVERSY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 7243, 26 August 1902, Page 2

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] TUESDAY, AUGUST 20, 1902. THE GAS LOAN CONTROVERSY.

Tiik controversy between the Mayor and ex-Mayor of this town, on the Gas Loan, is edifying in so far as it brings out the views of two municipal experts of undoubted ability; but we question whether either fairly represents public opinion in Masterton. It was on the motion of Mr Pownall, when lie occupied the civic chair, that the Borough Engineer—whose hands were already pretty full—was appointed to take charge of tho Gas-works. A good many—probably the majority of the ratepayers —held that the right stop then to have boon taken was to secure a capable successor to Mr Curham, in the shape of an experienced Manager. The argument used against this at the time was that a Manager | was superfluous ; but people in this town havo como slowly, but surely, to the I conclusion that an efficient Manager is indispensable, and that the money spent upon Mr Smithies would have been more profitably laid out on a first-class working manager, so that the town would havo bad an expert at homo, instead of an expert abroad. On this point Mr Pownall is clearly responsible for the present policy of the Council. Mr Hollings, on his part, is only responsible for demanding too big a loan, and being a little too much in a hurry to get it. It was rather unfortunate that directly he took the Mayoral chair, he should havo been called upon to deal with an expert difficulty of this kind. Certainly ho was not responsible for the undesirablo condition in which the works now are. No doubt the mistakes aud negligence of tho past seven years have contributed to the dilapidation now in evidence. Wo have heard, but do not know bow far it is true, that all of Mr Birch's recommendations were not carried out. It is almost a pity that when the crisis came, in April last, Mr Birch was not again called upon for advice, as bis previous knowledge of the works would havo been of material assistance. As things now stand, the Borough Council can have but little hope of carrying its five thousand pound gas loan. Of course the ratepayers will gladly hear all that can be said in favour of the proposition, though the salient points of the case are already in their possession. In tho interests of the town it is desirable that there should be some compromise between the Council and tlio ratepayers. If the Council would consent to modify the sum it is now demanding, aud agree to the appointment of q. firstclass resident manager, it should hayei little difficulty in carrying out all essential improvements ; but, unless it does something of this kind, it will, in our opinion, remain out of touch with tho ratepayers.