COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 240, 5 November 1878, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION.

MEETING OF ELECTORS.

Pursuant to the invitation of Mr E. C. Latter, the present representative of Berard Hiding, a number of the electors of that Hiding met on Saturday last to hear from him a statement of his views on matters connected with the action of the County Council. The meeting - was to have taken place at the Town Hall, hut that building not being available, the Mayor offered the use oil the Borough Council offices, which was accepted.

On the motion of Mr Latter, his Worship took the chair, and in a few words explained the object of the meeting, bespeaking a fair hearing for their representative.

Mr Latter commenced by thanking thoso present for their attendance. He -thought the present a lit time to consider the position of the County Council. With their permission," he would review the work done in. the past, and what he thought would dei-olve upon it in tfre;;i'uturc v > They;': were on the eve of an election fora ,t*?nn*; of three 'years, during SvhkJh tiirie "great '< changes might occur. ;.The v -.past w,qrk of.-; the Council only extendqd ov«ev a jferi^d v 6f • sis months. During thjit tinie. lie fqonsidefed a fair amount of work jloije. The published accounts would enaWe tbortv to judge of this work to a considerable extent. After briefly recapitulating the work done by the Council in the matters of •cemeteries , , ■•sand recreation grounds, wharves and jetties, and slaughter-house and dog licenses, the speaker went on to refer to the action alleged to have been taken by the Council with reference to interference with iload Boards. lie felt sure there was no intention of the kind, and their actions would not bear that construction. He saw by the papers that complaints were made on behalf of the Little River and Akaroa and Wainui Road Boards that the Council had interfered with them. ! Those complaints were made under a misI apprehension. Mr Latter hero went in detail into the history of the £1)09 grant voted by the late Provincial Government for the road from Mount Bossu to Lake Forsyth. On September 2(5 the Council agreed to a resolution asking the Road Boards to undertake the work conjointly. He had the replies received from the Boards with him, and would read them. (Letters read.) It was impossible for the Council to do as requested, as the Road Boards declined to work together. They therefore asked an Engineer to lay off the work, and, if possible, to furnish separate estimates for the part in each road district. The responsibility was thrown .on the Council of seeing that the money was actually spent on the work for which it had. been voted. As soon as tenders were let for . the work they were prepared to hand over the money on the certificate of the Chairman. The opinion of the Provincial Auditor was to the effect that, if they parted with the money on any other terms, all members voting for doing so would be personally liable.

As to the Council's future position, he ■would like to make a few remarks. Under the Counties Act considerable administrative powers were given to the Council. It was intended to be the mouth-piece of the inhabitants of the district, and its representations should have great weight with the Government. If they took away these powers, the Council would not be able to exercise such functions. He thought the Council should take over the main roads, this would set free money for other works. He had advocated in the Council spending some money on the Purau track. The supporters of this motion were beaten, on the understanding that the Road Boards interested would undertake the work, but it had not been done.

There was one more matter on which he would like to say a few words, and that was the question of increased representation for Berard Hiding. After giving the history of the manner in which an additional member was provided for Little River, the speaker went on to say that he could not admit that ho had neglected the claims of Berard. lie considered the. Riding would*be entitled to increased representation, but not at present. The electoral rolls were made up in March, and, no matter what changes had taken place since, the Council must go by them. In conclusion, he had not addressed them as yet as a candidate. Those were his opinions. He did not see why the Council and tiic Road Boards should not work together, each in their own way. In reply to Mr Shadbolt, Mr Latter stated that he did not know of any money having been spent on the Purau track. Called it the Purau track after it branched off from the Pigeon Bay load. Advocated its being kept open as a matter of public convenience. The question of any one having purchased land alongside it did not enter into the consideration of the matter.

The Chairman coincided with Mr Latter's opinion as to the convenience of this line. Mr Eolloston had expressed to him great regret that this important line was not to be kept open.

Mr Duxbury said it would require a large amount of money to make this line a passable road. He would like to ask Mr Latter whether he had takon any trouble to ascertain the state of Berard Hiding and its rate roll, lie thought the returns forwarded deserved a little more attention.

Mr Latter replied that it was impossible for them to act on what might be a possible, or even a certain future. The electoral rolls were prepared from information furnished by the Clerk to the Akaroa and Waiiuii Road-Board. . They only had the power to go by the rolls already in exist-

ence.

Mr T. S. Baker corroborated this view,

In reply to Mi , Duxbuiy, Mr Latter said that he did not consider the action of the Council re the Koad Boards hasty. If the Road Boards had agreed to act together prior to the last resolution of the Council, it would not have been necessary.

Mr Baker defended the action of the Council. Unless the Boards were prepared to act in concert, the Council could not part with the money. It could not bo divided. It must either bu locked up or

spent. : In reply to Messrs Whitfield, Duxbury, and Sh.tdbolt, Mr Latter said that the question as to what were main roads would have to be settled from time to time by the Council. As to where the money to maintain them was to come from, they had the 20 per cent, of the Land 'Fund.- At present, there was over £3000 io ilicir credit. Lie did not think it advisable to hand this money over to the iioad Boards. Believed it would lead to a constant scramble. He. could not see that the course Jig proposed would be taking money from the Boards. It "would be more economical for ore body to control thb expenditure than for several to do so. lie did not see why the Council could not do the work of the Eoad Boards, but was not advocating that, merely that it should cany out the functions imposed upon it by law.

Mr Duxbury could not support Mr Latter if those were his opinions. They were used to Koad Boards, and could turn out members who did not give satisfaction, but a County Council, once elected, was in for three years. He believed that the Council would distribute their funds unfairly. Considered the Council should be merely a medium of communication between Government and the lload Boards, and a check on hasty action. If a pro rata distribution were made of the funds, there

would be no unfairness. He thought that the members of the Council should be all Road Board members or none.

Mr Baker : Hear, hear ! J^-.ln making U brief, reply, Mr Latter referred to the contemplated appointment pf an engineer"; by. "the "Council as an inSstance of possible economy. j Mr Dickiin..wished to' propose a resolution, requesting Mr Latter to come forward ixs a candidate, but it was pointed out that lie, was t^an..elector of the Riding. "y* l by the Rev. W. 'Jtyfiuer, b»t beirfk irregular, it fell to the ground. / Mr Duxbfrry proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Latter for his plain .straightforward .statemsnt; -Ileicoiild not agre<s' "with' lift) position, but he gave him every credit for ths straightforward wny in which he had announced his opinions. Mr Shadbolt seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Mr Latter, in returning thanks, reiterated his opinion that there was no reason why the different bodies could not work together on friendly terms without flashing. The proceedings then terminated.