THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE WATER RICES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXI, Issue 6201, 23 February 1904, Page 2

THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND THE WATER RICES.

TO THE KDITOR. Sir,—ln these days o£ ultra-Liberalism and Democracy, are we to be deprived of that good old Conservative feeling that we have all been brought up in, and that so inherent in the heart of every Englishman, that a man's homo is his castle, and can we longer feel that home feeling of privacy and comfort, that always so endears all Englishmen to their occupation and thoir home. Yet, such must be the case if the present intentions of the County Council, with regard to our water races are carried out, for we may at all times meet strange people (not labour hired by ourselves) wandering about our homes under the presence that they are water-race men, and simply looking after their own work. As most of the homes in the county are new water races, it gives every opportunity to the fruit stealer or the burglar to be ready at any time to utilise his opportunity with profit. The intention of the Council to unfence all the land in the county, by putting gates on all the fences, and by such means open a right-of-way from any one man' 3 land to another, is the most arbitrary and impolitic act that could be carried out in this open, unprotected country. For what can more easily lead to stealing, and more especially sheep sailing, than giving a wandering population the right ot trespassing all over the country, aud opening a road for all sheep stealers to remove sheep about as they please, without appearing on a public road. It is to be hoped the Council will tako into consideration the policy of their present demands aud the feeling of the people, before they drive the agricultural community to turn and ask : Who found th,a land to utilise for the races, and who pay? the heavy water tax rates while at the aame time they have to do the work of the water races themselves. Are the farmers to be mulcted in a osrtain sum oaoh year for the improvements that are their own $ to be dictated to ae'to what fcime, and exactly how the work has to be done, on their own property, the ! water racas ? And then, surely, " the last hair to break the camel's back,"* to have all their farms thrown open to the well instructed sheep stealer, who knows so well how to act with an open road before him, and to a wandering population of objectionable people, who cannot be questioned as to their right there. Farmers !If such things are to be allowed you must combine, and you will then have the power to control the whole legislative policy of your own affairs, which is the only thing that can be »jusb and right, and you will have the whole management of and benefit from your own affairs. But while you remain as isolated individuals you may grin and bear it, for you have not the slightest power to resigb the actions of the powerful bodies acting against you, who have not the knowledge, perhaps, of the existing difficulties, and may create • many dangerous difficulties for you. As far as the Council is concerned, it is quite unnecessary to do any impolitic act. They j have the law on their side, and they have the power; it is, no, consideration of theirs ias to how a farmer may do his work. All it is necessary for him to understand is that the work must be done, and they can easily make him do it without putting the whole country into such a serious position as is proposed.—l am, etc., RXP. Baling.