EATING IN TOWNSHIPS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20077, 6 April 1935, Page 8

EATING IN TOWNSHIPS.

Scattered over New Zealand there are quite a number of Rmall towns which do not possess local selfgovernment. In the past as these small towns without self-govern-ment grew, a peculiar stage seemed to be nearly always reached where the matter of selfgovernment gave both the township residents and the mother county much matter for discussion and even created feelings of bitterness. At a stage before selfgovernment entered into the problem, however, the advisability of a special township rate often assumed some importance. That is the stage that Fairlie seems to have reached in the Mackenzie County, and at yesterday’s meeting of the Council the matter was discussed to considerable length. Admittedly to decide the exact point at which a township should have a special rate—even if that rate is only for extra maintenance or improvements—is a point which cannot be made according to any exact formula. But, if it is granted that a township is growing it must also of necessity, be granted that sooner or later the decision will have to be made. Then when the rate is struck, and there is still every prospect of the town continuing to grow there is the matter of using the rate to the best advantage. That is, such subjects as town planning call for attention, as in the past one of the factors that has been neglected in a number of New Zealand towns is a system of layout, to serve both beauty and efficiency, making adequate provision for the future.