County Council Administration.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 8070, 22 August 1905, Page 3

County Council Administration.

A CouneiilorV Criii.isiii.

Mr S. Greer, a member of the Kairanga County Council, addressed a meeting of settlers at Tiritea last night on County matters. There was a very, fair attendance and Mr Honore presided,. Mr Greer remarked upon the comparative smallness of the attendance and said it seemed to him that, despite the increase in rates, ratepayers wore still apathetic on the question. He said he was taking the present opportunity of addressing them because in November next there was a general election of members of the Council. He denied a statement that had been made to the effect that he was averse to keeping the roads in order and said he had always been in favour of keeping the roads-in good condition and at the same time, keep the rates within reasonable bounds. He blamed the apathy of Fitzherbert settlers for the inorease of rates and con-" trasted their inactivity with the steps taken by settlers in the Taonui riding last year who, by energetic steps, succeeded in getting their rates reduced. Never a whimper had been beard from Fitzherbert on the question of rates, and when he had himself protested at the Council table, he was told he objected on personal grounds and that none of the settlers objected. Value was not got for the rates paid either, Cr Greer contended. He had been left alone in his objection to-the raising of the rates. He considered it one of the blackest days for Fitzherbert when the Kairanga County Council was formed, though he reiterated that if the settlers had taken action in the matter the rates would possibly have been lowered. He quoted figures showing money spent in the Fitzherbert district during 1903-4 on contract work. - During that period £371 ls 5d was spent on work east of the Thiitea road, to the west of the same road i-8.3 4s sd, practically the same amount being .spent on the east as on the west which extended to Tokomaru. Details of money spent in maintenance work were also given, and Cr Greer claimed the majority of money, under this heading, was also spent east of the Tiritea. He intended to ask for a return showing the actual money spent in the eastern and western portions of the district, also of the valuation and rates in the same districts. He thought that not a fourth of the rates were paid by settlers on the east portion of the Tiritea. He thought there were about 20 miles of roading there as against 50 miles in the western part. That was the reason the rates had gone up. He considered that Fitzherbert East had got more than its share, and it always would while certain councillors looked solely for the loaves and fishes. He deprecated such action as only tending to raise rates all over the district. He explained details in connection with last j'ear's estimates, facts in connection with which have already been published. He narrated details of the opposition that had been shown when he endeavoured to get the estimates cut down in several important amounts, and also referred to the opposition ho had taken to the rate proposed to find the necessary money for the proposed works, also to the fate that his proposed amendment of the rate to be paid had met. The estimates for 190-1-05 were also read to the meeting. Referring to the £400 for the Gorge Road, Cr Greer said ho had objected from the first that amount should not be paid wholly by the Fitzherbert riding. He had expressed the same opinion to the Chairman of the Council and he had agreed that it would not be fair and said it was very probable the riding would not have to pay the whole of it. Six years ago whin the Fitzherbert Road Board was in existence the rates paid, including Government subsid , were _U2OO, now, under the Council's regime, rates naid totalled £2300. He contended that, despite the extra cost, the roads and district generally was not bo well off. Cr Greer detailed at length matters in connection with the formation of the Kairanga County and the amalgamation of the two 1. cal bodies, the Manawatu and Fitzherbert road boards: He did not think the change beneficial, at least to Fitzherbert. He did not think the Council was "run" as it should be, not sufficient interest was shown in the proceedings. Ho objected to the casual manner in which the accounts were passed for payment. He did not suggest they were wrong but thought a Finance Committee should deal with them. He also- complained of the present state of t le roads and the water-tables and added the engineer had told him they could not be improved with the present money available. He said the engineer had, after a lot of asking by Cr Greer, had the water-tables cleaned out, but a fortnight later had filled them up again by the use of the road machine. Cr Greer said that in a couple of years, if things went on* as they were now, the rates would be threepence, the legal limit of the Council. He predicted great expense in repairing bridges, culverts before long and said if £2300 would not keep the district going now, how much more would be required when. the bridges were commenced upon. He did not intend to seek reelection, but he suggested settlers should form themselves into a Ratepayers' Association and look after their own in terest. Linton settlers had already decided upon this step. Replying to Mr Barber, Cr Greer said there was no chance of going back to the . old Road Board.

Replying to another questioner he said there would be difficulty in joining the Horowhenua County, but there would be, under those circumstances, an affinity of interest.

Cr Greer was asked a series of questions by Mrßuchanan, relative to country matters, touched upon generally in Cr Greer's general remarks. Mr Buchanan expressed the opinion that action this year, as far as the rates were concerned, was too late.

Mr G. Stallard suggested steps should be taken to separate from the county; he thought they would be better off. Votes of thanks to the speaker and to the chairman terminated the meeting.