LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1247, 7 May 1884, Page 3

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

. XO TUB JiiPxTOB. gjn,—Year correspondent“ Water,” in Monday’s issue has evidently been well . treated by the County Council. Bellas no doubt had water distributed all over, his farm, probably from the rates raised in the suburbs. What would “ Water ” , bare said if the Gouncil had spent the money paid by him inrates in asphalting our footpaths or giving us a water supply? . “ Salt Water ” would then pro t '-M-c been his nom de plume, for what a lot he -would have shed. v Are we in the suburbs not right in up* holding that body in Which we have an interest, and by which we are benefited. 1 quite agree with “Water” that the - -Council baa doni its work well, and they fre quite welcome to the amount they aver wived from ns, but tempora mutanturetiws mutamiir in illis, therefore I dbt»ot seeany reason why we should bn rated'any !oncer by a body who hive no - interest in ns further than the amount of - rate*- they on squeeze out of us. if “ Watte” desires thafthe Couhty Council should still, exist, by all means let it do ko ; only Itt them subsist upon a water* rath specially struck upon those who reap ill the of wafer supply, not, the - lent of-which is the great increase in the yslue of Mud ; truly an unearned increment ; or rather, earned by some at the • *ttdn v e of all i Will epdeayqr to explain to “ Water /Shy' the ratepayers have more control ' dyer tho Road Boards—-(I) They have ■ representation; (2) they have ' -- anfinal mpetineg of ratepayers, it which ■ ‘ the'whole Work of the Boards and their "/expenditure for the year is submitted for ' their/approval or otherwise, which undoubtedly makes these bodies very careful in their transactions. I would like to ask “ Water ” how can the ratepayers control the County Coun* cilt ■Do they as a body ever come be* / fore the ratepayers 7 I’o they ever ask - them to confirm their actions and expen* - Dothey ever consult them about ;' approachable;-! may say, as the Czir of /?■\ Russia, ratepayers may ccm»» and go, but the Council may go on for ever striking LS./iSatea and spending money without any s^nMthacfc' 5 -''' *- : - «- • «Water ” imagines we can have as J -/-/Counties Act says not less than six nor ' ,v * /more than nine. I ask him would all :'r|lhterest» be fairly represented if we had] . ///tb* huger number 7 As a matter of fact , t:; /wean> to have only seven, or one for |e«ch road district If the Boards are will one man be able to look i * after the district he represents; decidedly ■ -not, the-whole thing would be left in the - * : - hands of the Engineer to do as he pleased lit the representatives would >r roads were properly main* e minor wants of any locality ’.it being impossible for one lA beaten-bora engineer, to le vants and Works of a' large this. ' That is' the very rea* pld Ashbhrton Road Board *osd the whole Pprnitv was nrepven Boards, don, I await anxiously your which I fancy he ardiwt to crack.«—l am, eta*, Awotrek Sbsubbak.