LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume V, Issue 431, 7 September 1880, Page 2

LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT.

To the Editor.

Sir, —Having read several letters of lute in.your valuable journal, bearing upon the above subject, and being rather inclined to the writers' opinions, more especially with references to Road Boards, I hope my remarks, although crude, may be the means of eliciting , opinions from abler pens. There is no doubt that ere long Road Boards will ceatse to exist, from the fact (as Bramble puts it) that the ratepayers will not allow two local bodies to remain with equal rating power. But it is not ft question with the ratepayers whether the Road Boards or the County Council ia to be (he governing , body through the Counties Act having been adopted ; consequently the inferior body must give way. And further, now that Government subsidies and the 20 per cent, of the Land Fund will cease, each county must depend upon its own resonrcps, and whan Jargo works are required it Will have to borrow, and then give security upon a special rale, or other revenue of the county. From this it is evident to my mind the R jad I>o:trd system must giro way, they having no borrowing power* , , and if they bad the interests of one district would clash with another, so that they would be unable to give any tangible security, and would have to pay usurous interest for money to carry out the requirements of their districts.

■In conclusion, sir, within a few months the ratepayers will be awakened from their apathy by having to pay two rates, if they do not make themselves heard in the Council Chambers, or bring pressure to bear upon their members. As it is evident from the Chairman's remarks, although some members proved by figures there was no necessity, he (the Chairman) intends to press the striking of a rate.- —I am etc.,

A CONSTANT HEADER,