Proposed Separate County

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1924, 8 May 1888, Page 2

Proposed Separate County-

FROM OUR MANAIA CORRESPONDENT.)

At the annual general meeting of ratepayers, at Manaia, on Wednesday, Mr. Wilson Milne proposed, " That, in the opinion of this meeting, the road boards in the Hawera county should merge in the County Council, and that the county be divided into two, making the Waiogo□goro the dividing boundary." He thought that the chairman of the County Council should be asked to call a public meeting to discuss the matter, as there were ratepayers other than those on the road board rolls who were interested in the matter, and who were excluded from voting at this meeting. He considered the Waimate district would then be quite large enough for a county, and would be well able to look after its own finance. Mr. Inkster seconded. Mr. McCracken moved, as an amendment, " That a petition be circulated, requesting the County Council to proclaim all the county ronds, in the Waimate riding, district roads, until such time as the Waimate can be declared a separate county." He said the dual control of roads was very expensive, and should be done away with. Mr. Daniel Kehely seconded. Mr. I. Bayly said that reference had been made, by one of the ppeakers, to Major Atkinson as having held out hopes that he would be able to support a proposal for a separate county, but he could assure the meeting that no assistance could be looked for from that source, as the Major was in favor of having even larger counties than at present exist. He referred to the expenses of the County Council to show what would be saved by merging the road boards and allowing the County Council to exist as at present. The actual expenses of carrying on the machinery was only about £300, but, of course, this does not include advertising, printing, &c, as these are fair charges against works undertaken. For another £75 a year, the council could do the work of all the road boards. He considered most of the objections from the Plains only sentimental. A ratepayer had to-day remarked that he did not believe in "going to Hawera." Financially, the benefit would be, as shown above, all in the way of merging. The work would be done well by one foreman of works, and the rates would all be collected by the one body. Mr. Inkster said that if ihe proposal to merge were carried, then the salary of the county clerk would be raised. He thought that the question should be discussed by a meeting called by the county chairman, instead of by the Road Board,

then others besides those interested in the Road Board could attend and have a voice.

Mr. Bayly, in answer to a question, said tbre were about 350,000 acres in the present county. The total valuation was about £50,000 for the Ngaire ; about £390,000 for Waimate : and the same for Hawera.

Mr. Forsyth advocated retaining the present county, and having all the roads placed under the control of the road boards. He thought that in the not very distant future the County Council would have to take over the duties of the Land Board, and other local governing bodies, and thereby become far more important even than now. Then road boards would be able to do work of such a character that the county with its extended powers and responsibilities could hardly be expected to do thoroughly. Mr. Milne withdrew his resolution. The amendment was then put on the original motion and carried by 17 to 2. Messrs Godsal, Forsyth, Inkster, A. C. Milne, Ellerm, Smythe, McCracken, "W. Milne, D. Herlihy, with members of the Waimate Road Bord were appointed a committee to carry out the objects of the resolution.