COBDEN TOWN BOARD.

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 July 1932, Page 11

COBDEN TOWN BOARD.

[to the editor.] Sir,— Reading your article in the “Star,” last evening, regarding Cobden matters and the criticism of members by the ratepayers, well, to get down to bedrock, what makes the ratepayers take so little interest in the Town Board or its members, is that they are heartily sick and tired of the whole thing. As one of the present members stated on his election to the Board, it is only regarded by the people of Cobden as a huge joke. The ratepayers would gladly like to see the whole thing abolished and be under a more staple administration, either the Borough or County, as there seems to be no idea among any of the members who comprise the Board, of how a business, should be run, much more a board, where the ratepayers’ interests are to be studied. Between stupid law bases, where the verdict has always been against the Board and who in the finish have to foot the bill of costs, and have no idea of economy in i-unnig the Board; a full-time office staff and an engineer to assist in the office, who could be employed better outside and blunders too numerous to mention, is it any wonder the ratepayers take no interest in the doings of the Board who, when the members do meet monthly, have only a brand of “parish pump” activities, being a case of something attempted, nothing done, and this goes on year in, year out. It appears to be a case with the members of having the honour of being called a Town Board Commissioner, though not many of the Cobden residents will “vie” with them for this honour.

To take a walk along Bright Street at the present time with the footpath broken up where it has not been tarred since the break-away from the County, dodging potholes and in wet and frosty weather dodging the mud and slush is something to try the nerves and tempers of ratepayers. Surely some of the members must be aware of these defects. To motor is a nightmare, with the beach boulders that are spread on the road in the guise of gravel. Why could not a screen be made or purchased where only rubble of a certain size would pass through the mesh and make the road at least safe for motorists. The Borough and County seem, to work better than this in distributing road metal. A few loads of sand on the footpath along Bright Street from Walker’s store to the first hotel in Cobden would at least save pedestrians from ploughing through slush up to their boot tops on wet days. Are the members aware there are still a few so-called footpaths in the Board district. Is the Town Clerk so busy in the office that it requires the assistance- of the engineer, when only a short time ago an ex-Commis-sionor pointed out in your columns that three days a week would be ample to employ the clerk. When economy can bo effected and it appears there could be a considerable amount saved in this direction, then the niembers of the Board should have the courage of their convictions and move in the matter. Bigger centres than Cobden can manage their office affairs on three days a week, why cannot Cobden? The present system is too costly, and should have been looked into long before, seeing that the whole concern is anything but prosperous. These, Mr Editor, are a few reasons why the majority of residents are waiting for a petition to be presented to get away from this farcical Town Board which has proved both a costly and “dud” institution.—Yours, etc., “FED UP.”