CORRESPONDENCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1764, 12 September 1885, Page 14

CORRESPONDENCE.

Maniototo County Expenditure. TO THE EBITOK. Sib, — A correspondent (or correspondents) lias ventilated his grievances and unburdened himself of a load which has been pressing heavily upon him since November last. In commenting on the apparent contrast between the expenditures in the counties of Maniototo and Waihemo, he should be honest in his desire to place the true facts before the ratepayers, and not endeavour to mislead them as he has evidently tried to do. In the selection of Waihemo County byway of comparison in preference to any other in the Colony, he made a bold but despicable bid to poison the minds of the ratepayers against the gentlemen whom they selected to watch over their interests in the council, and also the officers on whom the attack was directed. From my knowledge of the county of Waihemo, or that portion of it on which money is expended in the improvement of roads, it is about the area of one of the ridings in Maniototo County. Waikouaiti County, of which Waihemo at one time formed a part, still retains the same officers at the same salary. To be fair and honest, in comparison, take the salaries of b6th Waikouaiti and Waihema Counties and compare the total with the amounts paid in this county ; also bearing in mind that the greater portion of the main roads in the then Waikouaiti County were constructed by the Government, and that the main road towards Pigroo.t is not considerably improved even under the combined efforts of Waikouaiti and Waihemo counties. But this is not all. I wor.lu like to ask what amount was paid by Waihemo county (carefully omitted to be mentioned by your correspondent) for the survey and preparation of plans and specifications of works undertaken by that county under the Roads and Bridges Construction Act ; also surveys, plans and specifications for roads in new blocks; also surveys, plans, &c. for land transfer, as connected with road deviations. As these were not done by she inspector of the county roads what amount did it cost to get them prepared elsewhere? Again, the county has within the last t.wo years expended, and is expending large sums entrusted to it by the Government in making roads and bridges to open up new blocks for settlement, the plans and specifications of which have to receive the sanction and approval of the Government, and which must be made by an authorised surveyor and engineer. How much money has Waihemo County had entrusted to it for expenditure for this purpose ; and, if any, at what cost, and by who whom was the work performed ? I give your correspondent credit for passing over these items, as they did not suit the object for which he wrote ; but at the same time their careful omission shows the Mas and animus of the writer.

Is it either fair, just, or honest to compare one with the other the travelling expenses of councillors of Maniototo and Waihemo counties? Which councillor in Waihemo travels over 50 miles to attend a meeting, how many close on 30 miles, how many close on 20 ? I venture to say there is not one. I will go further. Is there one who has to pay for himself and horse on meeting nights at Palmerston ? Ido not think so; but let your correspondent answer these questions. He says, again, that Maniototo Council meets every alternate month, whereas Waihemo Council meets every month. So far this is true. It again suits his purpose to pass over without mention that the Finance Committee of Mauiototo Council meets the month after each meeting, and transacts the business relegated it by the council, examines accounts, accepts tenders, &c. To enable a just conclusion to be arrived at, would your correspondent be good enough to state how many contracts were let by the Waihemo County Council during the period^ referred to, and the aggregate amount, and so give us an idea where the balance went to ? Also, if these contracts were 20, 30, 40, 50, or 60 miles apart, and the number of nights the inspector was from home on inspectorial visits, the cost per inch for advertising one, two, three, and four consecutive times ? If the inspector or clerk actas valuer, and, if so, at what remuneration? Who performs the duties of pound inspector, and at what figure ? When the writer knows so

much about the cost of Waihemo County ad ; ministration and so little of what concerns Mauiototo, this information should be supplied. I would also ask him to compare Vincent, Lake, Tuapeka, Southland, Taieri counties along with Waihemo, and then show, if he can, where Maniototo extravagance comes in. I aud many Others are anxious on these matters.

As this letter is occupying more space than I anticipated at the commencement, I will conclude by asking your correspondent to give the salaries of the clerks of the above-named counties (wbich. as he is fond of comparison, presentfj a wide field for the display of his energies in this direction), and to name the county in which the same duties are performed, and the same responsibilities undertaken at a salary, as he suggests, equal in amount to a surfaceman's wages. lam a large ratepayer in this county. I have its interests at heart, and I am also an observer of the doings of other counties, and my .idviceis to let well alone. No charge of incomnetency is preferred against the officers. In them We have efficiency, attention, and civility. Make a change, and the little saving which might apparently be effected w6uld cost the ratepayers perhaps hundreds of pounds through incompetency and neglect. Get good officers, give them plenty of work, and pay them well, at least in keeping with counties of more territorial importance than Waihemo. — I am, &c, Honesty.

Maniototo, September ■">,

[We have also received an exhaustive reply to "Equity's" letter from "Veritas." We should nave liked very much to have inserted •' Veritas' " letter, but its length, and the many calls upon our space at the present time, prevent our doing so. Any replies to the above must be brief, and to the point, in order to ensure insertion. — Ed. O. W.]