SAVE THE ROAD BOARD.

Western Star, Issue 778, 26 September 1883, Page 2

SAVE THE ROAD BOARD.

TO TUB EDITOR. Sir, —Having carefully and respectfully perused Mr John MTntyre’s letter, which appeared in the Star of the 19th inst, I can find little or nothing in it in the shape of argument which requires answering. It contains, however, many assertions which I will refer to seriatim, 1. As to my “ arrogant attitude” in imputing ignorance to mergers, perhaps Mr Mclntyre was not aware that the word “ignorance ” in my letter of the sth inst, was a misprint for “ assurance ” as a very harmless word, and that the error was corrected before his letter appeared. It is true, that about six weeks ago, a letter of mine in reply to an unknown correspondent of the Star was headed “ Impute it to his ignorance ”; but as this writer, whilst attempting to hold me up to ridicule, was himself proclaiming his discovery of what is commonly and figuratively termed a “ mare’s nest,” I could impute his literary effusion to nothing else. 2. Mr J. M. asserts that the expenses of the County Councillors “ stand at nil," whereas, they are paid mileage at rate of one shilling a mile, besides tiie Chairman's salary. 3rd. He asserts that the Road Board has had "about ten feasts yearly, costing £35 or £26 per annum,” or somewhat over £2OO. I never heard of these feasts, but if the Board lias really eaten £2OO of the ratepavers’ money, which I doubt, no one would condemn it more than myself, and I am not contending for the abuse, but the right use of the Road Board. 4th. Mr J. M. assorts, that whilst the engineering and inspection of the County costs only per cent on the money spent, that it cost the Road Board 5 per cent, on its outlay, until the Board dispensed with an Inspector, since when, he says, that “works of a most llirasy nature hive cost from ten to twenty five percent.” This statement seems contradictory, but I conjecture that Mr J. M. means that the works, owing to bad inspection, have cost 25 per cent, more than they ought to have done. JNot having examined the works myself, I must leave it to those of the ratepayers who have to put a proper value on Mr J. M.’s assertions.

As the County works lire on n larger scale and more costly than those of the Board, and as the County h s ha I a large slice of land revenue to expend, it. is quite probable that the percentage cost of inspection is less on the thousands of pounds of County expenditure than on the hundreds of pounds of Road Board expenditure. This, however, does not prove that the County could inspect the comparatively small Board works at a lower percentage on the money expende I on them than the Board can, —and all experience and analogy inclines us to infer the contrary ; for it is well known that it is not economical to employ large bodies to do small works —just as it would be costly to employ a in m to do a boy’s work. sth. Mr ,T. M. says : “ Cannot the blind alvoca f esof Road Boards see that they are giving County members the fullest opportunity of making picked or pet ro ulsl instead of giving their alien lion to the genen, requirements of the district.” Certainly we cannot see it, but we can see that if we hau l over the Road Board rates to be spent by t ho County members at their discretion, we should then be giving them “ the fullest opportunity to make pet roads,” and we fear they might do so and neglect our district, roach. (5. lie then goes on to say : “ Have we not the fullest proof of this in the districts of Wairio, Mararoa and Waiau, where they took the earliest opportunity of merging, and where the most necessary roads received the fullest attention, and where settlers have not shown any desire to return to Road Boards ; no doubt appreciating (he privilege of one rale, with better and cheaper administration.” This sentence is somewhat mixed and obscure. One can understand that these settlers would appreciate “.better and cheaper sdininislrte tion” —supposing it be so. which 1 do not admit--but if they appreciate having picked or pet roads, made by the members of the County Council, they must be indeed a peculiar people. Wa in Aparima are not so peculiar, a eel cannot appreciate the privilege of handing over our Road Board rates to County m labors to make pit roads with ; nor do wo believe that in our case County administration would bo better and cheaper Neither do wo fail to see that the condition, arc very different in these three districts from those in Aparima. Ours is the oils district, already fully settled up. Thes I three districts arc new, and only partially settled upon. A system that may now suit them tolerably well would not suit us, and we doubt not but that ere long, when th-se districts are settled up, the ratepayers will see the wisdom of reviving their Road Bauds 7. Mr .1. M. says 1 have endeavored to ridicule the County Council for endeavoring to obtain « lame sum of money from the General Government lor much needed works, and that 1 deplo'v their action in paying nine per cent, cm their overdraft of nearly nine thousand pounds. I ought not to bo blamed for warning the ratepayers of the existence of the

ceat debt, and of its pr.bi.bl.; great for if any c nsiden.ble portion of the fifty i lioiHimd noun Is or more opp.iod for . nder Rondf and Bridies Construction Ml « granted, the Countv debt nui J t be much incensed, as the County must either find onefoo atn of the amount or borrow it. «i I « will not b« able to find th‘ one-fourth ou. of revenue. As Mr J. .I- ques mu amount of the County debt; and the .1 per cent interest, I must refer him to the repo.t of the last County meeting held in Am ust, and to the books kout in the County o.hce. 8. Mr J. M. asserts that three or four rears ano the Board contracted a loan, and committed this bsnutiful district to its open. Mom for leh years, at the lively rate of 16 or 1/ per cent, interest per annum.” If the rate or interest is 16 or 17 pm cent it, must include provision for sinking fund to pay o the debt in ten years time ; and if we a-o to contract debt at all, it. is best, to submit to pay a high rate, in order to extinguish it within a reasonable lime. In may have been the shortcomings of the .voii't Board, everv i.nprrtial enquirier will a Inut that the administration will compare veiy favorably with that, of the County, In defending the Road Board, I have not only the a rent satisfaction of feeling that I am wo, k.ng for a good cause, but also the lesser satisfaction that my views are in accordance with those of our leading Colonial politicians o both parties, and with those of our great English Statesmen. —I am, &e„ S. lloDfuaxso*. PS.—Counter pdition rapidly filling up.