SEPARATION OF THE TOTARA RIDING.

Ohinemuri Gazette, Volume I, Issue 28, 25 June 1892, Page 3

SEPARATION OF THE TOTARA RIDING.

[In order that this matter may ibe 'fully and rfairly ventilated in our columns we quote the following letter 'from the Thames "Advertiser " bf Monday last. •Et shows the "other side" bf the •question, but for all that we cannot endorse it]

"Sir,—-A meeting of the of the iTctara Itiding is called for this •evening, the object of the convenors, it •is nnderstood,;being to consider the advisability of separating the 'Riding from the .^Thames County, and joining the 'Ohineninrx!County. It is alleged that the Totara Riding .wonld receive more of ftie loaves and fishes, from the latter than^ they, are receiving from the former, and <ihat pur interests would;be looked after'better'iu every;respect. It is. not putforih in what manner this is going to be: obtained, .as the ratepayers are -expected ; to swallow the bald .statement "without question^ JHpwever, I much'mistake the intelligence bf my, fellow, ratepayers, if they will not think the matter -out \for themselves, and consider well they take such: an important step. "To me it appears absurd to suppose that the Ohinemuri people, with their large 1 burden iof unformed roads, which will take'£.2o,o6o -to: make iproperly, -'will look better odfter us than the Thames -people,-asTourlwelfare is.far more in •common with the latter'than with the iformefc; The'Thameslooks largely to ins for its supplies^ and-consumes all our fprodiice—in fact, it is our market, con- • sequeutly it is to their interests as well as ours that the r6ads and bridges shodld keptin orderj both to'bring-our pro*duce to "market and 'take 'back goods from the Thames tradesmen.; When -an agitation*like the'present is started, ■ every petty grievance is multiplied ;frpm a moWhill to a mountain, but the agitators have their one specific for everything straight—like Hollo*way's pills, follow the directions and ■ they will- cure everything, 'from a pimple to a; broken:leg.; The revenue from 1 bur "Riding is certainly very respectable, and we have a right to have-all our,reasonable wants attended !to, yet it must be !borne in mind that that the in order miles Of "mainroad, which the f Ohinemuri County 'Chairman through the Ohinemuri '■■ Gazette when writing on the subject ■ says!."is, certainly ,in very fair order." 'This-isa great deal more than he can gay for the main road within the Ohine'muri'County from the Hikutaia Bridge to 'Paeroa. 'In fact in the winter we whonave sometimes to travel to'Ohine<muri are, by the difference in the state -of the roads, painfully reminded of the 'fact, when we get out bf the Thames into the;Ohinemuri territory. It must ;be«b6rne in mind in asserting our rights ■for the' expenditure bf money in the fßidingj that we have to pay our portion •■■6f the interest on the £12,000 loan, and that if we went over to tho Ohinemuri 'County we would have to take our proportion bf this debt with us, viz., -£4,802, besides our proportion of the ipresent overdraft and other liabilities, the lump sum would amount to something like £7,00.0. "Now it must not.be thought for one minute that the'Ohinewould take over this debt without striking a special rate on us in ■addition to the general rate of sixfarth-' 'ings. We must'be sure that the special -rate will not be less than four farthings, '*as the 'Riding is pledged to pay that •amount tpcover,the interest and sinking fund' bf the loan. This rate of four farthings could be 'collected by the Thames County from us at any time, •but instead of doing so they pay the amount out of the general revenue. 'In . fact if the truth were'known, the interest and sinking fund of loan is most likely paid out of the revenue derived from the water-race. Separation would cut this ■splendid asset off from us,and give us nothing in return, for it must be borne in mind that in assessing the assets and liabilities, if we separate, onr water-race would not count as an asset,—at least <lbafcVa.B ,the precedent laiddown by the AuditoriGeneral at the time Ohinemuri :*epai<ated from 'the Thames County—

and as he would have to adjust the accounts in the event of Totara going over to Ohinemnm he would be certain to not to reverse his opinion, as the'law is the same. It 'is no use 'complaining that the money in the past was 'badly spent,'nor'isit any use pointing out that the leader in theipresent'movement is in a great measure largely ;to 'tilatne /for; most of the extravagant expenditure. Suffice it to say that since we rejected him as our representative about eighteen months ago, the 'County finances have greatly improved by ihe reduction of the indebtedness,! understand 'by over £2000. The Riding has certainly been, labouring under an injustice for a long time by not having a proper proportion of representation in the County, and I fully believe that if the ratepayers will confine their efforts towards having two members in place of one, they will gain their ends, and the arrangement will ibe of more lasting 'benefit than going over to ianother 'County with a certainty bf having more rates to pay, and getting less in return than we are at present.— ! ' Totara Ratepayer, i [Our correspondent bits the right nail' on the head, forit is clear the'Ohinemuri County \Gouncil cannot undertake'the proper maintenance bf the road from the Kauaeranga bridge to Hikutaia. Such an event es separation would !be deplorable. The main road from the Thames would !be neglected and totally ruined 'for traffic. We cannot think the'ratepayers'wiU'be so foolish as to be the tools of anyone. the fact is, that the prime mover in the matter isa gentleman wiho desires the separation because it would relieve him of the necessity of paying harbour dues to the Thames Harbour Board. A /River 'Board would be his delight—'with himself to rule the roost, and thus escape payment bf'harbour dues. We feel confident the Totara ratepayers have too much sense to bo led by the nose by anyone.'—^3d. Thames "Advertiser",!]