SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 1, Issue 44, 6 January 1880, Page 3

SOUTH RAKAIA ROAD BOARD.

To the Editor. Sin,—Will you kindly spare me a few lines in your paper to ask a few questions as to the manner in which the South Rakaia Road Board have performed their duties-.for. the past year I We all know they with a big balance, and bo did all the other Road Boards in the County. South Rakair had a matter of L 22,000 to its credit, and it seems they aro inclined to keep it at their credit, for by the Chairman’s statement they have only spent- L 2,715 on new roads during the year, and during that time it is only too well known that work was slack and would have been only too welcome to a number of residents in the district who would have tendered for road contracts at low prices to keep themselves and their horses at work. The South Rakaia Road Board, however, seem t» consider that they are doing better service by leaving the money in the hands of the bank, and getting a return in the shape of interest. I think, Sir, if the voice of the ratepayers were taken, that they would one and all say, “ spend the money in necessary works and don’t keep it locked up for the sake of the paltry interest allowed us by the Bank.” Another point I notice in which tins jßoard differs from all others in the Comity is the fact they do not strike any rate. Now this is a great loss to the district, because they lose the Government subsidy of ,£ for £ ; and as it has been a rule with all other Road Boards to strike a, rate with the object of getting ns much as possible from Government I think ihe Board have neglected their duties in not collecting their dues from the land owners. No doubt this had a good deal to do with the division of the district. ’The details of the expenditure were of the baldest possible description ; general expenses were said to bo L 435, I think; well that is a big sum to put down in a balance-sheet without any details, and ought to be explained somehow. Rakaia township had a hundred and something against it, and I would like to know if the crooked hit of work in the township which in honored by the name of kerbing is included in this cost, as if it is, the sooner the Rakaia township gets a man to lay kerbing down who can see a straight line the bettor. In conclusion I don’t think the ratepayers will growl if the Board spend the money as soon as harvest is over in those parts of the district requiring work to he done, and it will do all parties good to let their L 12,000 slide.— I am &c, A hard up Contractor. Rakaia, Jan. o, 1878.