SOMETHING ABOUT ROAD BOARDS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4209, 16 September 1874, Page 3

SOMETHING ABOUT ROAD BOARDS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— Recent Provincial legislation on Road Boards has been somewhat uncertain, if not inconsistent. If the old adage, from “gay to grave,” is not quite applicable, from big to little may be more in keeping—at any rate, grave will apply to both, if the wisdom of our law-makers is to be estimated by late results. Of the two, however, the big or wider area system may be preferable. In it there is more scope for higher principles—the strong helping the weak—wider sympathies, and a more general good. As regards the latter—the little—it is less than little. It lends itself to selfishness and isolation. Selfishness may be very natural; but, isolation is contrary to nature. Men naturally crave for society. Such begets neighborly and kindred feelings; but isolation disintegrates the social body, fosters selfishness, and the grosser attributes of our nature. To argue upon the practical facilities of the several regulations (I hesitate to desecrate the term law, for a certain reason) which have had, or are having, their day, the large area is found to bo beyond the ken of one managing head, and laying too great a strain upon the willing horses. Yet, it has been working a certain amount of good—and might have done more, had a more liberal principle been applied in the distribution of its aggregate funds. It is no compliment to the principles and power of the Beard to say, that such would not answer, nor be allowed. The principle acted upon—spending the money in the locality where it is raised—has, however, resulted in tlie present lesser Local Board movement, the aspect of which is an exhibition of- selfishness, if not of injustice, which is very questionable ; too much like passing on the other side ! The centres of population and wealth cutting themselves away from, and shirking liabilities which they ought in fairness to share with those who are the real creators of wealth, and who are daily contributing, involuntarily it may seem, to concentrating aggrandisements. It need scarcely be asked from whence comes all wealth. Nor need it be asked whore the accumulations of its minimuma concentre. The reciprocal system of nature ought to be instructive when set by the side of our morality, as regards social obligations. The rivulets and rivers contribute their mites to the great mother ocean, but she gives back their equivalent with due precision ; while the wealthy centres of human hives hesitate to contribute to the maintenance of those sloughy avenues by which they receive their means of support. The proposed action in tho Lower Hutt is a case in point. Three hotels, more stores and other industries greatly depending upon' tho surrounding district for their existence, and yet it is said, “ I am not going to sec my money spent in outside districts.” I want foothpaths that I may walk comfortably to church and my neighbor’s house. If your horses get bogged, you must mend your own roads. I will buy your produce when you bring ' it, and sell you what you require; but further, I am not bound to you. To put a case—hypothetically it may bo : What if farmers were content to crash their own com, eat their own mutton, spin their own wool and flax, &c,, &c. ; sell nothing and buy nothing 1 The answer might bo, all would got land and do likewise. Good ! Hence a primitive Utopia, just as feasible, possibly, as the Utopia of looking for the realisation of the first principle of Christianity, or even what civilised heathenism might conscientiously require. Petty local government will assuredly require a paternal supervision, devoid of local prejudices and influences, as in this case of tho Hutt, where a more equitable division of tho tax-paying localities will evidently he needed. —I am, &c., ' William Behtuam. Taita, September 1.3.