REFORM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21775, 6 May 1936, Page 8

REFORM OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT

TO TBI BDITOK OF Tfll PKB8». Sir—This correspondence is of extreme interest to me, since I happen to reside on one of the roads stigmatised. I can certainly vouch for the truth of your correspondents' complaints, and it affords so clear a case of what can, at present, occur under local government that I beg a little space to explain. This is a road within a borough, duly "dedicated and open to the public. Borough rates are demanded from its full length, about one-quarter of a mile. It is really a metalled road; but, by way of "binding," it was, through the unfortunate ignorance of one of the council's servants, buried under a thick coat of clay taken from the rich pastures alongside, so as practically to reconvert it into one of them. This was five years ago, and ever since it has been neglected completely. Access up it is therefore largely dependent on the faithful grazing of my neighbours' stock (without whose welcome offices it would by now be impassable, as "Motorist" evidently found!), and the weather. Given fine weather and low growth, traffic can, and does, come up to my property and past it; one light ear has also been known to get up once during rain, and the local taxidriver feels sure that he could get up any lime—with chains'. But lorries and service cars in wet weather stick about halfway down; and so do other cars. Like another of your correspondents, I too have been "dumped" more than once on the wet grass, over which wheels could not move. Twice a doctor's car has been unable to get up. Lorry after lorry has stuck, some with needed household supplies, and once a motor-cycle narrowly escaped overturning through a bad skid on the greasy surface. The - rates demanded are such that even my own during the last five years would have put the road in order twice over, on the most extravagant estimate; and, though the only resident as yet up this part of the road, I am by no means the only ratepayer, user, or complainer. Yet the borough council will do nothing—to the road; and its recent "repairs" to the footpath instead have now rendered that also practically useless, and indeed unsafe to the unwary, on a wet night. What is the remedy, for the public and myself? The law at present compels no council to repair any road; and apparently an accident has to take place before "danger" can be proved. Like "Ratepayer," I think that some outside overseer or authority should exist, to whom appeal can be made against ignorance, unfairness, incompetence and waste. And may I add, Sir, that I was very pleased to see Ihe courteous and agreeable replies which you were good enough to obtain for both "Ratepayers" from the authorities. I have so far been less fortunate; in fact, the subject of the road has actually been lately declared "tapu" by our worthy council, perhaps through a sub-conscious sense of guilt. Could I then beg you to try to find out for me when this road is going to be repaired so that all traffic can be sure of getting safely up it in all weathers? It is not always advisable for dwellers in small country places to dispense with a pseudonym, but in this case I readily offer you my own name. —Yours, etc., B. E. BAUGHAN.

Akaroa, April 27, 1936. ["Many of Miss Baughan's statements are inaccurate," said Mr P. G. Riches, Town Clerk to the Akaroa Borough Council, to whom this letter was referred. "The council certainly collect rates and in her case between £8 and £9, but she has not mentioned the many requests she has made. The road mentioned is one that was made to open up property for building sites and was well laid out and metalled with crushed hard metal. Miss Baughan is the only resident in the road and lives on a hill at the extreme end. Before her house was erected sFte asked the council to blind the road surface as she considered it rough; she then requested that two street lights be

supplied, which cost the council over £6 per annum, and her three requests to put the footpath in order have been attended to. In fact, all her requests have been granted, with the exception of that relating to the road, which the council considers to be in good order. It refuses to clean the growth off the surface for the reason that it would be overgrown, again within a few weeks, there not being sufficient traffic to wear it off." Mr Riches added that Miss Baughan mentioned that several people could not get up the road; but it would be more correct to say that they would not go up because of the cost, and the wear and tear resulting from such a steep climb. Althougn the year had been an exceptionally wet one it had recently been proved that the road was not dangerous for vehicles. "If all the ratepayers made the same requests as Miss Baughan, the council would very soon be bankrupt," concluded Mr Riches.]