COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 75, 20 May 1879, Page 2

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

$0 THE EDITOR OF THE HANAWATU

HERALD

Sir— Before the Northern meiribers of the County secured the office of Chairman to ono of their number, it was frequently ' made a cry, that the Southern members j were acting unfairly towards them, simply and solely because they chose to maet at ffoxtuU. At each year's consideration of the estimates it was always found they had received just treatment. Td Understand the present estimate^ and the tale they unfold, it must be remembered that the two leading Northern niembers have always been opposed to the County system, and always harped on the advantages and cheapness of Highway Boards. The present financial position of the Council must therefore be placed to a studied aim to secure an agitation against the working of the County, or would show, which I do not believe, an iucdnipetency on the part of the Executive officer which would be beyond a polite designation. For firstly, on the possibility of obtaining the Land Revenlie from laud expected to be sold soon, the Ridings of Taonui and Kiwitea have been allowed to run into debt over tho present year' s estimates to the amount of £1109, a sum within £100 of their whole yeaf's revenue. In thd face of this, Mr Halcombe iv proposing the shilling rate, is reported to have said : — " It Jwas almost certain the present subsidies from the Goverment would not last beyond next year." If the subsidies fall off, so in all probability would the land fund, and then ■what position will these Ridings be in ? May it not account for their eagerness to run into debt ?

The Northern Ridings of Manchester, Taonui, and Kiwitea represent in total revenue only some £486 over the total revenue of the Southern Ridings of Oroua, Kawa Kawa» Awahoa, and Horowhenua ; yet by the estimates the Northern Ridings had overdrawn £2511 to the sum of £715 overdrawn by the Southern Ridings, thus obtaining the use of £1856 beyond what they were entitled to, and the expense of interest being payabb by the County as a whole.

The necessity of striking a rate of one shilling is clearly seen to be caused by the action of the Northern Ridings, as a sixpenny rate would clear the Southern. Yet with this heavy rate, the three Northern Ridings between them have only £322 to spend, iind they have still a debt of £1109. On the ground of economy only, it is suggested by the Chairman to increase the working expenses by £260 ! This shilling rate is so little required by the Southern Ridings, and gives them £1069 to spend, that Kawa Kawa aud Oroua have voted their revenue on Highway Board works, and Awahou £130 to the Local Board, and the balance to remove a bridge and put a culvert in its place— assuredly an excellent reason to pay an extra sixpenny rate.

The members of the Council should have known, some must have known, to what a position they were drifting, for it is impossible on the suppusition of the usual sixpenny rate being struck, for the Northern Ridings to have been £2690 in debt, as they were.without knowing it ; and the Chairman should have pointed it out to the Council generally. Yet even now the Taonui estimated ex* penditure, is quietly put in the estimates £209 over its estimated revenue.

If the Government subsidies cease, as prophesied by Mr Halcombe, only perhaps a little sooner, in what way, will the liability of the Southern Ridings be recouped for this extraordinery expenditure in the Northern Ridings ? The ratepayers should require of their Representatives some explanation of this state of finance.

I am, &c ,

FoXTON.