The Northern Advocate Daily SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1937. WHO MUST DECIDE?

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1937, Page 4

The Northern Advocate Daily

SATURDAY, JUNE 12, 1937. WHO MUST DECIDE?

acgriatered for transmission tfcroutrh the Dost a* a Newspaper.

; The most important subject discussed at the meeting of ratepayers in the Otonga riding of the Whangarei County Council, held on Thursday, was that of the rate to be struck for the current year. This question arose when the County Council was discussing the striking of rates at its previous meeting. Riding members generally indicated the rate they were prepared to support, but some, including the member for Otonga riding,/asked permission, to hold the matter over pending consultation ‘with their ratepayers. The Otonga meeting, by a majority of two in a small representation of the ratepayers in the riding, declined td endorse the proposal of Cr. Martin that ; a rate of fourpence in the pound ■ should be struck, 1 and decided in favoiif of a rate of threepence. The councillor explained very fully that even with a rate of fourpence' the riding would end the year with a deficit if the engineer’s very moderate estimates were adhered to. Some speakers Very rightly stressed- the fact that it would be foolish policy to allow the roads of the riding to deteriorate further, as this would mean the destruction of the ratepayers’ asset. It was also pointed out that the riding' could not expect to be carried by the ratepayers. in other ridings. When ■; the decision of the meeting was reviewed by the County Council yesterday, it was disregarded. The . riding member, in accordance with the wish of the ratepayers’ meeting, moved that the rate he threepence in the pound instead of fourpence, as he had originally suggested, but this was negatived in favour of an amendment that the rate be fourpence. This decision, which is to be commended in the circumstances, raises the very interesting question whether the affairs of a county, or, as a matter of fact, the affairs of a country, should be handled by the men elected to represent the people or by the- people themselves, The all important point) which ratepayers, or general j electors, should keep in mind is j the need for making careful selection of representatives, for, once having made a selection, they should abide by the decisions of their representatives, who, if they take their responsibility seriously, should be in a position to act in the best in- , terests of all parties. If they do not do this, the ratepayers-have' <

their remedy when the next opportunity to make a selection occurs.