Untitled

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1953, 9 November 1874, Page 2

We notice that the scheme of Road Boards — or as they are designated on the gold-fields of Nelson "Local Revenues Boards " — is not working satisfactorily. We have already had the example of the Ahaura Board which has been virtually extinguished by the action of the Nelson Executive ; and we now have an additional instance in the case of the Loca^ Board of the Lyell, some of the members of which have refused to act. Without attempting just now to criticise the action of the malcontents of the Lyell BoarJ, it is worth while asking what proportion of the Colonial grant in aid for Road Boards has been allocated to the Local Revenues Boar<33 of the Nelson Gold-fields ? So far as we are aware no account of this subsidy has been heard of by those Local Boards whase circumstances have led to public comment. Have they had their share ? and if not, why not ? Has all the Road Board subsidy of the General Government to the Nelson Province been absorbed by the " settled districts " — which means the districts in immediate relation with Nelson city? We are far from wishing that the Local Boards — by whatever name they can be called, should be absolved from the obligation of performing the duty of local taxation, but surely they are entitled to a fair share of the gift which the General Assembly has accorded to Road Boards throughout the Colony. At the same time, it is forcpd upon us to say that the action of many of the Local Boards on the West Coast will provide a strong argument against any proposition to supplant the Provincial form of government by a Road Board system.