MEETING OF ROAD BOARDS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 548, 14 October 1881, Page 2

MEETING OF ROAD BOARDS.

The meeting of tho Chairmen and members of the Peninsula Road Boards convened in accordance with the resolution moved by Mr Shadbolt at the last meeting of ths Akaroa and Wainui Road Board, was held on Wednesday at tbe Road Board office, Head of the Bay. There were present Messrs Shadbolt, Brooks, and Checkley of the Akaroa and Wainui Road Board ; Messrs Pitcaithly, Budua, and Pettigrew of the Pigeon Bay Board ; Messrs Barker, and Moore of tho Okain's Bay Board ; and Messrs Fleming and Gardiner of the Port Levy Board. On the motion of Mr Pitcaithly, seconded by Mr Barker, Mr Shadbolt was elected chairman.

The Chairman Biiid " Gentlemen, you are all aware of tho object of this meeting, I thought this was a suitable time for calling you together to consider this subj -ct and therefore moved the resolution standing in my name at tho last meeting of tbe Road Board of which I am a member. I thought it well just to call Road Board members together, and I consider that you gentlemen present being members of Road Boards aro representatives of tho public. There are, as you are all well aware, two rating bodies in the County, and I think th it you will agree with me that one is amply sufficient. If so, it becomes a question as to which we had better do without; the County Council or the Road Boards. Now, lam of opinion that we cannot do without the Road Boards which do a great amount of useful work. The wants of different localities are so diverse, that we must have local bodies on the spot to see after our roads and bridges. For instance, the wants of Port Levy are quite different from those of Waikerakikari, and a County Council could never in my opinion conduct the work in all these different places satisfactorily, The Road

Boards on tho other hand suffices for all the wants of tho place at present, and we can get just as good men to be members of them as we can to be members of tho Count)' Council. The Road Boards are quite as much as the people can maintain. I am not prejudiced agaimst the County Council, but I am sure that men living in a place will look after it a great deal better than str. ngers. Suppose the County Council had the control, how could they possibly tell, for instance, if the Tai Tapu money were spent right; and if the money from one district were frittered away in another, that district would have to suffer, and I think th it would be the case if the County Conner were tbe rating body. I think there should tie some moans of having a corrector over tho Road Boards, but as long as there is an aud tor, as at present it is a simple matter for him to see the rates are properly spent. If tbe County Council has an enginuer they will have to pay him a considerable salary, and not only that, but the staff will run away with a lot of money. He will be sure to want a clerk and 6 or 7 men, and of course these men will want a cook, and all this will cost a lot of money, which the public will have to pay. When a bye road or small bridge is wanted the Council will know nothing about it, an I it will be ignored. They miy look r.fter the main roads a bit, but not after the little roads which are just as useful in their way (applause.)

There is one thing [ should like to notice and that is, that tho R>ud Boards have no borrowing powers, and I think that is a very good thing indeed for the people, as tbey cannot plunge the County into debt. Now the County Council has borrowing powers, and there is no doubt that some time or other when they think it necessary they will make use of them. What will bo tbe co .sequence V Why they will have to levy a rate tc pay tho interest of the loan, and I think that it would be a great hardship to the people to be piaced in such a position. We must not be short sighted, we must 'remember there are other days besides to-day. Most of us have families growing up. and we must try not to put them in a false position, and by a wretched m stake place them under a burden which they cannot carry. I have now told you my opinion of the matter and ask other gentlemen present to express their views. (Applause.)

Mr Pitcaithly said that some twelve mouths ago tbe Pigeon liny Road Board had taken tbe nutter up and sent circulars to the other Road Boards in the County. He quite agreod with Mr Shadbolt, that the County Council would only look aftor tho main roads if they had the sole control. They would always be sure to keep up a large and expensive staff of officials. If they had an engineer he would not go all over the County, and if anything wanted doing in Okain's or Pigeon Bay, he would probably send a substitute to look after it, who, very likely would bo quite inefficient. He would ask the clerk to read the replies the Pigeon Bay Road Board had received to their circular. Tho Clerk read as follows :— "Extract resolution anent County Council, from minutes of September 4th, 1880. " ' After some conversation as to the advisability of doing away with the County Council, it was proposed by Mr Pitcaithly, seconded by Mr Budua, and carried, that other Road Boards in the county bo communicated with re the propriety of abolishing the County Council, as county business could be more efficiently and cheaply transacted by road boards. The clerk was directed to publish this resolution, so that the attention of other Boards might be turned to the matter, and that they might, by the consideration of the subject, be prepared for united action.' " Extract from minutes of June 4th, 1881. " ' The desirability of public interest in next election of members for the County Council being awakened was talked of.' " Copy letter re same (Letter Book 246). '•' Road Board Office, Pigeon Bay, "'September 21,1880. " ' The Chairman, etc. '• 'This Board having, at its last ordinary meeting, had under consideration the advisability of abolishing the County Council, as county business could bo more cheaply and efficiently transacted by Road Boords, 1 am directed to request you to ascertain the sentiments of your Board on the matter, and communicate with mo on an early date.—Yours, etc., '" Jonald Stewart, " ' Clerk to Board.' " I certify the above correct copies according to minute and letter books. " D. Stewart, Clerk. " Road Board Office, Pigeon Bay, '• October 11, 1861." The following were tho replies that were received .—

«Akaroa and Wainui Road Board. " Duvauchelles Bay, Oct. 7, 1881, a " Chairman, Pigeon Bay Road Board, Sir._By instruction I have to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 21st Sept., asking the co-operation of this Board in abolishing the County Council. Ia reply I have to state tbat this Board consider they bave no power to deal with the question it being a matter for Legislation. —Yours, etc., "John Barwick, " Clerk to Board." « Charteris Bay, Oct. 6,1880, <• Sir, —In reply to your letter to the Port Victoria Road Board re tho proposed •dissolution of the County Council, I am authorised to inform you that the Board desires to express its sympathy with you in the sentiments contained therein, and Avill co-operate with you to the best of their power.—Yours, eto., %. " R. K. Bradley, " Chairman." ■" Road Board Office, Okain's Bay, " 1880, HP Chairman, Board, of date by the had been the Board for we are only too glad that your Board has made a move in that direction, and we will render every assistance ■ in the matter and bear a sbaro of any expense that may be incurred. "This Board are of opinion that it •would be advisable to get tip a meeting of ► one ot two delegates from each Road BoaTd at an early date, at some convenient place, to organise proceedings, and would feel obliged if you would communicate any further information you may receive on the subject, as we consider it is high time Rome steps were taken to stop the high handed extravagance indulged in by the so called County Councillors. —Yours, «9tc, 11 Wimjam Moork, Chairman. 41 Per D. Wright, Clerk."

" P.S.—lt is the expressed opinion of every one of the members of this Board nnd also of most of the ratepayers in the district, that the County Council is simply a huge swindle, and benefits no one but the members of the Council, who have neverspent one sixpence on any public work within the County (that is of money ■belonging to the Council). " Wm. Moork, by I). Wrioht." v Road Board Office, " Port Levy, Oct. 9, 1880, ■" Chairman, Pigeon Bay Road Board. "Sir—l have the honor to inform you that this Board had not time at their last meeting to give the subject mentioned in your letter dated 21st Sept. the consideration it requires. I am therefore directed to inform you that the matter was left over till next mretimr.—Yours, etc., •' A. Moutleman, " Clerk to Board." " Little River Road Board Office. " October Glh, 1880, "Sir,—ln reply to your letter of 21st. ulto., I am direrted to slat*? lhat this Board j.» of opinion that tbe mutter of abolishing tha County Council, however do-firnb'r, is A question affec' nj the general public and ebonld be left to tfca ratepayers to decide.— Yours, etc., " Jam as Wilson, " Clerk, etc." Mr Pitcaithly said he thought these letters tdiowed tbe sentiments held by the Road Boards. Mr Gardener asked if all the Boards sent replies. Mr Pitcnithly •: " Yes* 1 ' Mr Gardener thought that tlw County Council was of little use in a county like Akaroa. Each Road Board was in a better position to look after its own interests than the County Council -could ever be. As far as borrowing money went, be thought it a great pity those powers were ever granted. (Applause.) Ke was glad the Road Boards did not possess that power, and he did not see the use of it, for if there were any particular work, like the conservation of ft river, different means were provided, and that was all that was necessary. He thought it would be well to get a more general expression of public opinion, but presumed that this was only a preliminary meeting. He thought they should call a general meeting of ratepayers to discuss the matter in abou 1 - a month's time, after the next meeting of all the Road Boards. He thought the meeting should be held at the Head of the Bay, and was sure if the idea were carried out it would put the matter in a better light.

The Chairman : " Would it not be as •well for each Road Board to call a meeting of ratepayers to ascertain their opinions ?" Mr Gardiner: "Yes. and after that, have a general meeting here. At each of the Road Boards you will only get the opinion of a particular spot, and if a general meeting were held here afterwards, I am sure it would carry great influence, aa the parties so attending would uphold the views of the different Road Boards. As far as the County Council are concerned, I think if they were to hold meetings about twice a year to distribute the general Government funds at their disposal, they would be doing all that is required. Mr Fleming asked what steps it would be necessary to take to abolish the County Council ? The act was referred to and clauses 11 and 12 were read.

Mr Barker said these wore the only clauses affecting the matter, and from those they would see that when once the act was brought into force the Council could not be abolished. He supposed they all remembered the contest they had gone on for some fifteen months as to whether the Counties Act should be brought into force or not. He had opposed it bitterly from the fist, but hie party dropped off one by one till ha was left by himself. He, however, opposed to the last. He did not hold with the views tbat had been expressed, and did not think it had been shown that tbe County Council had dono any harm. It was their own faults if tbey allowed tbe Council to do barm. Tbe only thing, tbey had to do was to put men on, who would pledge themselves not to levy a rate without the ratepayers asked them to do it. He for his own part would now make a pledge, tbat be would oppose the levying of a rate by tlm County Council till he was asked by the ratepayers of the riding he represented to assent to such a rate being struck. He thought the County Council had done good and not barm. He might say their income bad been some £1500 for tho past year, and that sum had been distributed in tbe County, nnd even if it bad not been 'spent'on tbe roads, it bad tended to the public good. He was opposed to the Council taking over the main roads. He might further point out

to those who said the Council had done no good, that they had distributed some £7000 amongst the different Road Boards. Some £750 of the County Council's income arose from license fees, etc., and if that body were abolished, this sum would revert to the General Government and be lost to this county. What he thought was wanted was. not that the County Council should be abolished, but that they should be inoperative. In Mr Moore's letter there was a reference to extravagance. Ho should like to ask in what way the Council were extravagant. Mr Moore: "What has the County Council done with their money ?"

Mr Barker: "They gave £750 to tho Okain's Bay Road Board." Mr Moore : "And now they withold the money justly due to us; why did they write a private letter to Mr Ollivier? What right have they to frtop our money ? Why, they have not given us a shadow of a chance. Yon say they have done good, what have they done ? I'll tell you, they have divided Oknin's Bay into two parts, fo that two thirds of the people bave land on both sides of the boundary, and the worthy Chairman, Mr Dalglish, and you, Mr Barker, stood by and saw this done. Now that the election is coming on, you have polling places in Le Bon's Bay and Little Akaloa, rendering it impossible for a ratepayer to vote in both ridings. The fact is you have left Okain's Bay out in the cold. " What are you doing but trying to jew us and do us all the harm you can. Mr Barker: "All you have said does not explain about ihe extravagance of the County Council; 1 want to know what you meant by that expression. If you meant that the members took travelling expenses, I, as a member of the Council tell you that as long as I sit with that body I shall vote for the expenses being paid, and my reason in doing so is, that it gives n poor man who could not otherwise afford to come, a chance of being a member. (Hear hear.) lam certain that if tbe Road Board members were allowed their travelling expenses by the ordinance, that they would all take them.

Mr Moore and Mr Budua remarked that the Road Board did all the dirty work and the County Council got their travelling expenses. After some further discussion Mr Pitcaithly said he saw no harm in the County Council existing, if they were left harmless. What they had to do was to send members to the Council to endorse the opinions held by the Road Boards. Mr Barker said that that was their only chance, as the Council could not be abolished. A large meeting would be no good ; what they had better do was to leave each district to act for itself, and send men to the Council favorable to their views. Mr Fleming eaid he was in favor of the Road Boards, and not of the County Council. As Mr Pitcaithly said, they must elect the most harmless men they could on the Council. The Road Boards were the only bodies capable of dealing with matters in isolated bays, like those on the Peninsula, for it was only people on the npot who knew what was required to b * dime. He still hoped that there was some way of doing away with tbe County Council, and bad hoped to have heard of some means nt tbat meeting, but be must say that at present he did not see bow it could be done.

Mr Snnrlbolt said the Premier had Raid in the House that it was in the people's power either to abolish or keep it. Mr Brooks thought the matter should be put before the ratepayers. After that they COIIId see what could be done to abolish tbe Council. lie should have liked to have seen more members of the County Council present, and thought it was very »ncoiirt«*oiis of them not to attend. He congratulated Messrs Barker and Fleming on being present. Mr Gardiner desired to point out that he thought that the meeting too small a one to iufluence public opinion. A public, meeting should be held. If the County Council agreed only to meet once or twice a year to distribute the money they received, amongst the Road Boards, thst was all they required. The Chairman considered the monthly meetings of the Council were a great waste of public money. He would ask Mr Barker if tho clerk did not attend just twice a week from ten to five and get a large salary of £150 a year for it. Mr Barker : The salary is £130, and he only attends at the office two days a week, but be has a good deal tf work to do besides, and I am sure he has quite double ns much writing to do as any clerk of any Road Board. Besides the £130 begets £20 a year for travelling expenses. The Chairman said be believed all the clerical work of the Council could be done in about three hours every month.

Mr Pitcaithly said he would like to know why the Council put up a grand building like they had when they knew tbe people wanted roads. He was sure they must be as careful as possible to return the right men, for he was sure some of the present Councillors had a rate in view, and if they carried it the money would be squandered, Mr Checkley wanted to know what the annual working and travelling expenses of the County Council were Mr Barker said that he believed the travelling expenses came to about £80 a year, the Clerk's salary to £150 including travelling expenses, then there was printing and advertising — (Several gentlemen—" What about the honorarium.") Yes, and there was the Chairman's honorarium. Mr Checkley sard that it appeared to him the Road Boards did all the work, and the County Council got all the money, and the ratepayers were working against their own interests to support the latter body. Mr Pitcaithly then moved, and Mr Fleming seconded "That this meeting pledges itself to call meetings in their respective ridings, to get an expression of opinion from ratepayers with a view of sending members to represent them in the County jCouncil who shall pledge themselves not to enforce Clause 107 of the Counties Act, and otherwise modify the working of tbat body in order to make it less expensive." Carried.

The Chairman said be thought that Mr Gardiner and Mr Fleming and others who had come long distances to attend, deserved a vote of thanks. (Applause.) A vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Shadbolt for acting as Chairman. The Clerk was instructed to write to tho Little River and Port Victoria Road Boards, informing them ,of what had_ been done and asking for their co-operation. The meeting then adjourned.