THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1918. COUNTY RE-ORGANISATION

Northland Age, Volume 16, Issue 11, 21 November 1918, Page 4

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1918. COUNTY RE-ORGANISATION

IN Northland the greatest trouble that confronts us is that Counties will not rate themselves sufficiently. In the Mangonui County with an area of 875 square miles and a population of 3115, the General Rates,Hospital and Charitable Aid ' and Special Rates produce only £7OOO. The effect of the re-organi-sation of our County system, which we will subsequently suggest, will be that confidence will

be established in the personnel of our Councils, and this will hearten ratepayers to support progressive policies which in many cases they are chary of doing at the present time, owing to a complete want of confidence in the administration. We would point out, inter alia, that the effect of good roads would be to double values almost immediately and to an extent far in excess of the amount borrowed, thus actually putting into the pockets of the ratepayers thousands of pounds at the same time that they receive the added advantages of good roads. This as a business proposition is gradually sinking into the minds of the ratepayers of Northland, but the fact that capital expended on good roads is a highly payable reproductive form of expenditure is as yet far from appreciated, and its acceptance is retarded owing to the want of confidence in the administration before mentioned. In some cases Councillors lay the blame for this unfortunate state of affairs on the staffs ; but before doing this they should satisfy themselves that they—the Councillors are doing their part, and decide as to whether the conditions under which the staffs are working are such as to encourage initiative and efficiency. Our general investigations would lead us to believe that Councillors in many cases must share the blame for the unfortunate position that has arisen in many Counties. (To be Continued.)