ASHBURTON COUNTY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXI, Issue 8444, 11 August 1911, Page 4

ASHBURTON COUNTY.

PROTEST AGAINST SUBDIVISION.

Per Press Association.

WELLINGTON, August 10. A petition signed by four hundred and sixty residents of the County of Ashburton lias been presented to .Parliament by Mr W. Nosworthy, M.P., praying that the House will refuse. to pass the Mount Hutt'Co'unty Bill, or any other measure introduced with the object of subdividing the County. The petitioners suggest that the promoters of the Bill have never formulated any specific grievance against the administration of the Ashburton County Council, but if any wrong has been done it is due to the inhabitants of the Mount Hutt road district, which constitutes the Mount Hutt riding of the County, that an opportunity should be afforded the Council of remedying such-wrong before the extreme stop is taken of breaking up the County. Water races totalling 1750 miles* have been constructed by the County Council as one system, and managed without reference to any road district or riding. The headworks of a number of these races are in the Mount Hutt road district, so that if the proposed new county were formed it would have control of the supply of water to the South Rakaia races, and such an arrangement would be unfair to the farmers of the latter district. The races common to both districts can only be managed, states tIL - P6, tltlon > by on<* controlling body which has no interest in favouring the landowners of one district at .the expense of the others. The - present County Council is in this, H impartial position. , It is also pointed,out "that the district" proposed to be cut off enjoys the use of other public works, such as roads and bridges, constructed by the Ashburton County Council for the general benefit.