THE SIZE OF COUNTIES.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19109, 19 September 1927, Page 11

THE SIZE OF COUNTIES.

TO THE EDITOR O* ffHE PBtSS. •Sir,—ln your issue of Monday, September 12th, appears a letter signed '' Experienced,'' in which several extraordinary 'statements are made, when your correspondent speaks of tha "Great Pelorus Road Board.' 1 '" Now, Sir, I was a member of that body for fully 25 years, and was its chairman for many years until we merged into the' Marlborough County in 1923. 1 was also Maiuborough's first county chairman on its formation (I merely mention .these facts to show I know what I am talking about). In 1922-23, the old Pelorus Iload Board levied a general rat© of 2d unimproved value, also a Wairau bridge special rate of 1-8 of a penny, the hospital levy being paid out of the general rate. Then there was an antecedent liability of £2600, which took another l-8d for interest and sinking fund. Under the Marlborough County last year (1926-27), the Pelorus riding general rate was 2d unimproved value, and o-17d hospital rate. This year it is lower, being l£d general and 6-17 d hospital rate, so taking year, in and year out there is very little difference between the rating under the old Pelorus Road Board and the rating of the same district as the Pelorus riding of the Marlborough County. Also, it has only been in.operation three years, and is just getting into its stride, beins- now possessed of road-making machinery, two motor graders, two motor tip-spreading lorries, a stonecrusher, road-roller, etc., which none of the five Road Boards before amalgamation could ever have hoped to get. The most marked improvement in the roads under the county system is in the Pelorus that voitr correspondent, "Experienced," quotes. To put the difference in pounds Stirling, the total expenditure of the Pelorus Road Board's last ycW of office was £?2OU; the eccDenditure in tli© Pelorus riding in 1926-27 over the same area was £10,860, without any increase in rates; this is explained partly' by the highways subsidy on the 40 miles of road your correspondent refers to, and also to adjustments ■ from the county fund*

From my long experience on local bodies, I am fully convinced that the day of small i counties is done. They have served their turn well, but the ever-increasing high speed motor traffic must be provided for, and the only way to cope with it is by using up-to-date . methods and machinery. Small counties cannot finance the purchase of this, and if they did it would mean needlessly duplicating sets of machinery in small areas. We in Marlborough,, especially the Pelorus riding, are feeling the benefits of amalgamation in better'main roads, arid we are now endeavouring to pick up the condition of the backblock roads.

I trust, Sir, you will give me space for this letter in your widely-read paper. The false impression that "Experienced's" letter may create is my excuse, also the incorrect statements in regard to my own particular riding, Pelorus.—-Yours, etc..

CHARLES NEES. Okaramio, Marlborough, September 15th, 1927.