CORRESPONDENCE. LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN WAIMATE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3389, 3 November 1896, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE. LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN WAIMATE.

(to the editor.) Sir, — As one who favors the proposed local government reform for Waimate, I was much pleased to read in your issue of Wednesday last Mr Godsal's very sensible remarks on the subject. Letters of' this kind and your criticism in Monday's Star ought to incite ratepayers to study the R.B. Act for themselves, when they would easily perceive the merits of the proposed reform. The objection to southern portion being cut into three parts could be met by a simple arrangement of making the maintenance of bridges (to be named) along the Main South road a common charge on all three subdivisions interested. With regard to the rival suggestions of creating a lot of small road boards, if the diversity of opinion evinced by the committee on Wednesday last be any criterion as to how ratepayers would receive petitions then I make bold to say that not one fourth of them would sign in favor. What were the suggestions? Some proposed two road boards, some three, others five, and seven, and one, I think, fifteen. Why stop here, but go " the whole hog " at once, and let every owner of property create his patch a road district, borrow under the L.B.L. Act up to the JEBOOO limit, each annually, and all be rolling in riches. This is the logical outcome of our opponents' arguments ; but it is wild talk, and they know it. The fact is Southern Waimate is not keen on borrowing. The test was put a couple of years back hi the Manaia drill hall. Mr McCarthy brought up a proposal to borrow £15,000 when only seven (I was one) out of the sixty or seventy present held up their hands in favor of it. Others there are who want small boards only as a means to an end, viz., merging eventually in the county. There is no need here to enter into the value of merging, but it may be remarked that while seeking to avoid the creation of small and costly road districts we ought to be careful not to rush to the opposite extreme in helping to make large and unworkable ones. Should the present proposed reform be carried out we will, I think, have hit upon the happy medium. Each subdivision will always be represented on the board, will have power to strike only the amount of rate needed ; will be able to pay interest on loan (if any) out of ordinary revenue, have the power to retain its rates for local expenditure and stop the system of " spoils to the •victors" — that game of the "good old times " that has landed us in such a mess to-day with our accounts. • Thanking you in anticipation. — I am, etc., W. Blennerhassbtt. Otakeho, 31st October, 1896.