The Matarawa Bridge Meeting.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2059, 25 April 1887, Page 3

The Matarawa Bridge Meeting.

To the Ltii'-A v f the Standard. Sia, —After thinking over what was said at th(j meeting on Wc-un-bday evening. I am inclined to ague with the remarks ot those rato-pavcr.' who objected to further B. rough taxation even for the Matarawa bridge. My opinion is that the 1,2u a year should con.e out ul ordinal';, revenue. Tie '•’tiers who a.e joiti.’ _• u • tie lui a: in ' |-i hj; c , ; r A! eg . .Pj ; eiovu - ; . ' oi t.l v .-.-ar, ■ . oet:-. tiewar r ■ . ; •; I . f ; l ‘'t. i .... • i n, rate;', .e - - . u. 1 ’-he Miu- ■ 'i.. 15oi L.-i ,j- J , lo trieet tin- .t he neces.ia.-v 1j alter tidua, a ami to coni.di-r whether ii is advisab.e forGreytuwn auy longer to be a Borough under the Municipal I'urporati u Act. I think it should give up this farce, and become like Featherston a Town District. A considerable saving would be effected by tins course. I find that during the last four years the annual income of the Borough has been about 1.575, and that this has cost Lllo to collect and expend. This, in my opinion is excessive, and a saving should be made of L7O a year. Out of this saving it would be quite easy to devote the L2O for the Matarawa bridge. Of the two I consider the bridge is of far more importance to Greytowi, than the Borough Council. (I am indifferent too, as to whether the bridge is best or the Swamp Hoad, providing the Matarawa settlers get a safe outlet in flood times), it is simply astonishing what a mess is being made of Local Government by the Parliaments we have been having lately. 1 have felt this so much, that I was very nearly asking Mr Buchanan on Ibursday evening whether, in the event of our returning him to Parliament next time, he womd bo prepared to m- ve the adjournment of the House ol K.-pre-sentatives for three years, so that it may do no further barm during that period. During the last 15 or IB years the House of Uepresentativcs, in tuy opinion, Las been doing nothing but harm to the colony. Take the case ut these petiy Municipalities and Kuad Boards in the Forty Mile Bu-h. These remind me very much of the seven or Oi_l.t toil gates I found m the \ alley when 1 came here Ihe.-e gates collected about LIJJU of revenue, and it c. st LliiOuto collect in the seien or eight toil keepers’ salaries. Here is (heytowu collecting in four years I-UdUO of revenue, ami this costs LtiiJU to c died and expend. This amounts to 25 per cent ami is simply absurd ; and Carterton u about to tollow suit. 1 strongly auvhe the ratepayers of that township to remain a lown District, and see that the expense ot cu.lectii g the annual rale dot > rot exceed Id per cant. In i/ - pin..ui there sh i n tin • a K'.io jj.a; ■( , r tl 3i , ia .. . . I th • t n ;,y o nur-n u. ~t - am -Ur.:* ~i t . u- ti.au i.i tj< n .> n- , i a i--cat , i.i r .. u ne v , . co-tot iy pe--eei.r or Lluopt-r -nn .m. i .Neittiei rhou'd Acts of 1’ ru.uir .it j throw an extreme amount of ciern-t! j work upon these small bodies. I am, Ac,, Coleman* Phillips. Greytown, 21st April, l&b7. P.B.—l.et no ratepayer suppose that 1 have the slightest complaint against the present Borough Clerk. Mr Webster gives full value for his pay in the amount of work he has to do. What 1 object to is the work itself. Therein lies the farce.