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THE MINISTER FOR WORKS,,AND
PUBLIC RIGHTS.
-4-----
To the Editor.
Sir,-The Subiaco and Leederville
Councils in their capacity as Local
Health Boards have been ordered by
the Central Board of lHealth (which is
a Government Department) to remove
their present sanitary depots at South
Subiaco, on account of the spread of
population, to a new site some consi
derable distance to the westward of
Jolimont, on a portion' of the Univer
sity endowment lands, 'but to which no
access exists by way of a road whereby
the sanitary operations might be pro
perly conducted. A deputation, repro
senting these local boards, waited upon
the Minister for Works last Tuesday,
with the object of asking sotme finan
cial assistance from the Government to
wards constructing a road to the new
depot, seeing the expenditure was not
of their own seeking, and a peremptory
order had been made by the Govern
ment through their Health Depart
ment that the present depots must be
vacated by July 1 next. Mr. LEglish,
M.L.A., introduced the deputation, and
from all accounts the discussion which
ensued seems about as good as a panto
mime, having the unusual resulti how
ever, that when it was over the deputa
tion departed sadder if not iviser men.
Of course, the 1Minister was pleased to
see them, and assured them that he
was prepared to give his promissory
note for a decent amount on the next
year's Estimates. This delighted the
deputation, but, continued Mr. Price
(how often this little word dispels bright
hopes and prospects, substituting only
disappointment and gloom), had they
considered that the boundary of the
rifle range ;eserve was only a trifle
over three-quarters of a mile distant
from where the proposed road would
pass; had they ever considered the gra
vity of the position if a road is made
in that direction; how would they be
able to cart rubbish by day, or night
soil by night-it would be too danger
ous (it would seem the riflemen blaze
away by candle light) - and pro
ducing a sketch plan the Mini
ster showed the danger zone stretching
far and wide ever other people's lands,
beyond the military boundary, even
taking in Jolimont itself, where about
400 people reside and have th9ir homes.
The interview was taking the form of
an illustrated lecture, which did not
interest the hearers much, but when
the Minister finished by recommending
the desirability of finding another site
because of the danger, the deputation
was simply flabbergasted. Somewhat
recovering from the shock. Mr. Daglish
remarked, "It seems to me that if the
rifle range is to be a danger to that
whole area the 'best thing would lw to
remove it." to which he might well have
added that if the whole country outside
the military reserve was considered a
danger zone, the only sure safety spot
would be to .et right in front of the
target.
Mr. Daglish further remarked there
was a proposal to construct a railway
from Subiaco to the North Beach. Will
it be affected by the position? To
which Mr. Price replied "It is quite
possible that those who projected the
railway, like you people, have never
thought of that rifle range. It is
most necessary that we shonlld have a
rifle range within easy distance of the
capital. but it i' a mal+or for the Fe
deral Governm,. t. They have that
site there: we have got to consider
facts as they exist."
This is just what the Minister for
Works, in my opinion, has never done.
else he should never have displayed
such igndrance according to the facts
as they exist. Now what are the facts?
The military .mthoritiesi noesess a site
(and only a site) as a rifle range, and
so long as they confine their operations
within that site no one can take ex
coption, but when they encroach upon
the rights and liberty of others outside
that site then they can he made to
desist. They have no more right to
make it impwvible for other public
bodies having lands in t.he near vici
nity fro,n usian and having free access
to such lands than those public bodies
could enter unon the military site and
,confiscateall the military paraphernalia.
.,I ,i1jjgefithe& UeZaroeb d ýeld
sponsible for any damage. As evidence,
about two years ago a man was in
jured in the knee by a stray bullet
at Jolimont, and received £4t0
from the Federal Government.
I would also remind the Mi
nister for Works that in any locality
where a business is conducted which
becomes noxious or hurtful to the peace
or rights or others, the law requires
the nuisanoo to be abated, and should
this be impossible the business has got
to get-not the people, as Mr. Price
led the deputation to believe.
This is just how the Government
through its Central Board of Health
has treated those Local Health Boards
in connection with their present sani
tary sites, and the same applies under
xcisting circsmstances if the military
r'fle range should prove a naisance in
blocking adjacent k4nds ana pubhla
roads from those who have a right to.
use them. If Mr. Price thinks under
such ciraumstances the freedom, com
fort and convenience of the whole popu
lation of Perth and suburbs in harimg
a quick and pleasant run to the sea
side is not to be considered, and
such a large area of public lands
not to be profitably utilised,
besides bringing a large aia permanelnt.
revenue to the Government, then I as
one who have taken some interest in
promoting this railway will not be
hqulked by such absurd nonsense, and
I feel sure when the deputation arraneg
ed meets the Premier on the 26th
inst. to discuss this railway from Perth
t, the ocean the usual good sense
of the Premier will make possible what
Mr. Price, unable to grasp the true
position as affecting the Mublic interest,
termed a coaundrum.-Yours, etc.,
VWM. FI NDLAL
Perth, June 17.
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