MACKENZIE COUNCIL.

Timaru Herald, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 13016, 2 July 1906, Page 6

MACKENZIE COUNCIL.

TEfE TEKAPO BIDING. To-the Editor 'of the "Timaru Herald." ' - , * ""Sir, —About a fortnight ago I wrote,, a J letter to your paper, asking for certain information, and mildly criticising 'some of Mr Rutherford's actions since he has I been our, representative in the CounciL As he hafe nt>* made jury reply, W may 4^fely ,he is unable to refute i the. statements madep.or justify his actions in; a-satisfactory manner. - >That| being so, I think you will agree with us I that if he "is a man of honour, or endowed with any of the finer feelings, there is only one course now open for him to take. I was rather pleased to see,in your issue of the 15th inst. that you ■> gave ray poor production! the great honour of -over "half I a column of a leading 'article. As, however, your leader was in the nature of an attempt to assist Mr Rutherford out of I a rather difficult position—although you have' signally failed—your criticism was onesided. I hope you "will allow' me "a little space, to mildly review some of your remarks. , '> To begin with, -you' state-my letter to be a series of acid criticisms on Mr Rutherford's conduct as a,member for ttiejfekapo riding. - ,They ' were J a ,,*©f plain statements 'of facts without embellishments, that seemingly „ cannot box. refuted, given, I can assure' you, mtnflf hl'D&Atow than in anger. You ad-, mifc that over the riding accounts was -perhaps not altogether judicious', but you nullify this by saying that I should have mentioned the terms of the agreement and the amount of money involved in connection with, the .dispute over aie 'Burkes Pass-Fairlie 1 road: As you are, I am not a member of the Mackenzie"* Council; therefore it would mean a good deal Of trouble for me to collect all the figures necessary. But they are certainly not required. The fact re mains that since the change from the original agreement was made, we have been, called on twice to pay a special rate of a farthing over and , above the" sairlie| Biding. Surely that points out our pre | sent*position more* forcibly than any figmes could" prove, particularly as * before ' this separate rates were never heard *of ii the county. You state that I asked, foi an explanation of the differential' rating among the ridings, Abut dSn't'Tilame Mr. Rutherford. Further, you say a'disinterested critic would have mentioned tha f both, members for Tekapo objected to 'an* increaced rate, but were overborne by a majority. You must know that objecting without giving any reason lor same is the action of children, and that is what the Tekapo members did. As you no doubt are aware, in accordance with the law before a, rate is struck it i« necessary for an estimate of the expendituic to be given for each separate riding for the year. That I saw from the Press was done by the , chairman and engineer \t the last meeting for all the ridings, and presented to the'Cbuncil. In the case, of the Tekapo riding' they /barely allowed (I understand) for < what was absolutely necessary, and I am informed on good authority that even with this extra rate there is a strong probability* that we will be working on an overdraft before the end of the financial year. Your readers will therefore see that in objecting to the rate without giving any good reason the Tekapo ;*aem-' hers were either ignorant of what'- they were doing or trying dust in the eyes of the ratepayers they .represent.* The true reason why the extra rate vis required I have already given. You state that the-rest of. my letter is an oblique but great compliment to Mr Butherford. I have carefully re-read my, .letter, but cannot find anything,indicating ' a compliment, so would susrgest 'rthat if there is a compliment given that instead of an oblique one it must be an oblique one. With reference'to .the" Mt. Cook Station road, you eitate that the question owing to certain legal aspects has been discussed in committee, and you ask 'how I-came to know what was being done or Mr

Rutherford's share in • it.:: .1 know nothing: of what' -ha4i-;bedn done, in com-, inittee, and therefore could not divulge it A hiife record of their doings; and is free for inspection to any ratepayer who chooses in reasonable hours, v "ft, I think, -Will show Mr Rutherford's"; share in this, biisiness, and his inconsistency., *.-,._ J;-,.ij-. : /; In,.conclusion, 81 !"' ford; as being' a coiiWistent It&ampion of the; back '. .country. Well, if-his championship;: give a continuation Of such remits as' we have already .had him : so far, the quicker he his role .the better for us, for T "am 'far from being atone in the opinion, that if we had:had no representatives in our riding/whatever during the last three years, but wholly depended <th the fairness of the members for the lower ridings, we would never, have had a separate rate struck, nor have had to put up with a great many of our present disabilities., Sincerely hoping Mr Rutherford will take advantage of your open column, as',l have many questions to ask, I am, etc., . : TEKAPO RATEPAYER.