CORRESPONDENTS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 630, 28 July 1882, Page 3

CORRESPONDENTS.

To the Editor. Pi ß] — l have rend tiotli the letters from *' Yiix Fopuli " find " fudm?," find was noi jawan*. until reading a letter signed *• H. U-," that a grows personal attack had i«;er. umde«n nny one ; l»nt I suppose it is a case of the cap fitting, and V. P. uml 11. B. firo synonymous. If that is the case, i must compliment " Fudge " on the success of his drawing a red herring across the trail. I cannot help thinking that if fcuch insolent remarks are to be mode against such a body as the Council, who devote a good deiil of their time for the ■benefit the -burgesses, without looking for any remuneration in the shape of filthy lucre, it would be well for those who dolight in seeing their effusions in print to boldly put their name, instead of writing mnder a norn de plume, such as " Vox Populi." I was not aware, until reading the letter signed H. 13., that there were different grades in the Council, aa he men tions something about a " head " Councillor; but I suppose'he knows all about it, .as he has been in the ranks, His remarks ■about the wharf question being a tough one I fail to see. ]t goes along smoothly enough ; it is only a few agitators like V. P. who keep stirring it up, and think they are doing something very clever, and at the same time conferring a blessing on Ihe multitude, whereas all the time it is tbeir own pockets they are looking after, .and not the interests of the outside public. —Yours, etc., WATCHMAN.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT. To the Editor. Sir, —It is to be regretted that tl>e meeting convened on the 15th met., but prevented through the weather, had not be«i called a.month earlier. The replies to the mictions submitted by the Government to \he Little River Road Board were forwnrdwl to Wellington on June sth, anrf must be presumed to be included in the 200 replies reported to have been received and taken into consideration. The proposals of the Government in relation to local bodies are now before us, and they claim the merit of reducing the ■cost "to those bodies in administration. I must confess that 1 do not see this. The proposals with regard to borrowing, as published, nre altogether different to the plan .sketched in the Treasurer's circular. Power is given to borrow, by way of overdraft, to the extent of one year's revenue. This simply means paying 9 or 10 per oent to the banks for accommodation, and is highly objectionable, as one year's revenue, according to the proposed rating powers, would do very little •towards neeessaTy works, and if once began would have to be contiaued, and the various districts would be constantly in debt, and at the meicy of the banks. The plan sketched in the circular was, in my opinion, infinitely superior. As you are probably «ware, it was proposed to establish a board at the scat of Government, from which . County Councils and Bond Boards could borrow, the repay-; gnent extending over a number of years and if, for instance, this district required to borrow £1000, it would only make £ or t| of A penny difference in the rates. I notice in your issue of the 11th inst. that you say Parliament will be liberal in their grants to locnl bodtee , this session. By what process you arrive at this comfortable conclusion I am unable to fathom. It hns been evident for some time that there would bo no more subsidies, a.nd no

more grants to local bodies, and, further, that it is not the intention of the Government to hold any direct communication with these bodies in future. If I am proved wrong, the surprise will be an agreeable one. I notice also in the same issueyou dwell upon the absurdity of doing away with the County Councils, As far as the Aknroa County Council may be taken into account, I contend that if there is any absurdity at all, it will be in allowing them to have the handling of any more public money. It is indisputable that they have been a white elephant ever since "The Counties Act " forced them upon the ratepayers. In fact, they have simply been a commission agency, collecting public moneys and dividing—or. aa the fashionable term is, " allocating "—them amongst the road districts, and charging 40 per cent, for the service. Other bodies may have committed grave errors, but, as far as possible, have applied remedies, but the Council have never shown any disposition to do so, though they had the_ power. I see that you state in your article of the 11th that the leading men in the county will not sit on Road Boards. It would be interesting to know, firstly, who are the leading men? Secondly, what constitutes a leading man—brains or bullion lam aware that in small communities individuals are to be found who have a hankering after an incipient aristocracy, but I yet to learn that they are reliable on public matters. No doubt a County Council composed of euch would stand upon their dignity if deputations from Road Boards were waiting to crave audience of their lordships. The Government plan proposes to pny the chairmen of Road Boards, and here that obnoxious word "honorarium" creeps in. Behold the tableau in Wellington ! There may be seen ninety disinterested innocents sitting in solemn synod, deliberating on the amount of wnges (honorarium) to be paid them by their constituents. Patriotism, in days gone by, meant sacrificing everything in the interests of your country. Patriotism of to-day means pounds, shillings, and pence. As it is evident that in future the Road Boards will bo thrown on their own resources, it behoves them to seriously consider the situation. The first consideration is to endeavor to, as far as possible, reduce the cost of management. I have always been of opinion that all work can be carried out at a cost of not more than 5 per cent, on the outlay. Of course, in the present low state of the funds of the various Road Boards on the Peninsula, the work is, under present arrangements, costing four times the amount, or more. I am unable to see, as I said before, that the new plan will help us, even if the valuations are done by the Property Tax Department. There is much to be said on this matter, and I may return to it at another time, but my limits are reached. The County Councils, I notice, aie to be promoted, elevated, or put higher on the shelf, with semi-parliamentary powers. This may be all very well, as far as the Akaroa County Council is concerned, providing they are put high enough so as to he powerless in wasting jioney, and then the drainage of the lakes can be given them to play with, an amusement that will occupy them for the next fifty years. -Yours, etc., JAMES WILSON. Little River, July 22.