The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume X, Issue 1926, 10 May 1888, Page 2

The Star. (PUBLISHED DAILY.)

THURSDAY, MAY 10, 1888. DIVISION OP THE COUNTY.

A EEBOLUTION was passed at the socalled annual meeting of ratepayers of the Waimate Road District to the effect that all county roads within Waimate Riding should be declared district roads until such time as the Waimate be declared a separate county. In the first place, the Road Boards Act sets forth that the annual meeting shall be held at noon, and makes no provision for any adjournment. The meeting in question was held at 2.30, and was probably not legal on that account. The legality of the meeting is, however, a matter of small consideration as com Da red

with the proposal to cut into two a county even now by no means a large one. The proposed new county is vitally interested in county roads which run to Hawera and Normanby, and which at present form the chief outlets for produce from the Plains. Yet it is proposed to bring these roads under the control of two bodies instead of one, and to place the outlets of the main channels of communication in the hands of another county, whose ratepayers would have little or nothing tc gain by keeping in repair the most important links of the chain of communication on which the proposed new county now depends. The advocates of the new county admit that Parliament has

expressed in the last Counties Act a distinct disapproval of any further subdivision of counties. They also urge that County Councils ought to have lagrer powers, and should have the work of the Education Boards, Land Boards, licensing, etc. committed to their care. It seems to us< evident that, if the enlargement of the powers and duties of the counties is desirable, any reduction in their area muK lessen the probability of such increased powers being given. No argument has yet been adduced why the existing county should be urged to cut down the area of its operations by one half, when it is impossible proportionately to reduce its working staff, its ordinary current expenditure on elections, its clerical work, advertising, &c. We hold that the right step is to merge the smaller bodies in the one with larger powers ; subdividing the present ridings until each part ia sure to secure a fair share of representation. The total probable expenditure on road work out of rates and deferred payment and perpetual lease moneys will probably not exceed £3000 to £5000 a year, both on Road Board and County account, throughout Hawera County. A few years back, in Waimate Road District alone, about double this amount in of expenditure was undertaken yearly ; and the Crown Lands Eanger, an impartial and competent critic, reported that, generally speaking, the work had been done well and where most required. It cannot surely be necessary to establish two counties with two staffs to deal with a less expenditure than was formerly successfully managed by one Eoad Board. There are some who point to the great number and length of the roads on the Plains as a reason why more than four Councillors should be elected to look after the interests aud wants of the ratepayers. We contend that, although the roads are numerous, they are, almost without exception, level ; and in summertime, the only season when road expenditure can be undertaken with advantage, it is now no hardship for a County Councilor to ride over and inspect 50 or GO miles of such roads in a day. There are, it is true, a few roads near Pihama and Otakeho, through wet bush, which form an exception, but a little felling and draining will, we hope, in the course of a few years, result in as much improvement on roads in that district as there has been in the district between Manaia, Kaponga, and Eltham in the past six years. The real reason why there has been so mnch opposition to a merging of the Waimate Road Board in the Hawera County Council is the one which is urged in private more often than in public meeting. The Waimate settlers object — and those living west of Manaia have some reason to object — to being called upon to have their roads managed from, and their tenders opened and dealt with at Hawera. But the County Council has already shown that it recognises the centrality of Manaia by appointing a county foreman who resides, not at Hawera, but at Manaia. Anyone who will take the trouble to compare thp area of settled and improved land in Waimate riding with land of like description m the rest of Hawera County, will bo compelled to admit, that in all likelihood the next property tax valuation will show that the present Waimate riding will be entitled to five councillors out of nine on the Council. With a clear majority of all the Councillors in Waimate riding the most central and convenient place of meeting for the council will certainly be chosen. And as a matter of fact Manaia is a little east of the centre of the county. These are all matters for the ratepayers to consider and after due deliberation to determine what is the best course to pursue. What between harbor rates, county rates, and road rates the local taxation is grievously heavy. It is comparatively easy to get clear of rates for district roads, and to vest the control and management of all roads within the county under one body. But if after due consideration the Waimate ratepayers are really satisfied that the course resolved on last week at Manaia is the best, we shall cheerfully accept the verdict of a majority, even though we" may consider the step a mistaken one. Meantime we -join with Messrs. Milne, Inkster and. others in urging the County Chairman to call a public meeting to further consider the subject.