LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VII, Issue 678, 12 January 1883, Page 3

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

To the Editor. Sir,—At a public meeting called by the Little River Road Board on the 4th instan

to consider the financial state of the Board, the abolition of the County Council, the sub- division of the district, closing roads, and various other matters, at which I was present, Mr Coop was a thorough alvocatefor the County Uouncil taking over the supervision of all main roads in the County, and Mr H. D. Buchanan was much of the same opinion, as he said that the simple fact of the Road Board calling the meeting showed that the Board was getting muddled and incompetent to manage its own affairs, and that it was not necessary for the ratepayers to be asked to pass a resolution that a further rate be struck not to exceed ls in the £, as the Board had already the power to strike a rate up to Is in the £, and was surprised that it should ask the ratepayers' permission, but a small majority cf those present seemed of a different mind. Mr Coop said that some years ago, and previous to the abolition o£ the Provinces, tho funds of the Road Boards being much in the same position as now," very low," the Little River Road Board took upon itself to address the various Road Boards on the Peninsula, asking them to combine and form one Board, as it (the Little River Road Board) waa of ! opinion that the work could be done at less cost and better supervision. Bearing this in mind, he considered that as the funds of the various Road Boards were now almost nil, that the County Council was now the proper body to take the supervision, and he thought it simply ridiculous that it should take six Road Boards, composed of thirty members and six clerks, with the attendant official expenditure, advertising, &c, &c, to expend what will now be something less than £3000 & year. It would be equally ridiculous it a County Council of nine members could not be entrusted with the just expenditure to the interests of the whole county of a similar sum or any amount that might be required. To create the County Council by the election of the Chairmen of the Road Boards, as by resolution proposed, would be no guarantee that they would be abler or juster men than the present or any future members of the Council. To trieet periodically, as proposed first at one Road Board office, then at another, and so: alternately, would be altogether unworkable, as the maps and documents required at these meetings, could not be caried about from one place to another, and in this case many an important question could not be properly discussed for want of the necessary information. With reference to the subdivision of the Little River Road Board, Mr Coop was opposed to it, as it would only create petti-fogging little boards, one for Tai Tapu, one for Gebbie's Valley, one for Kaituna, another for Little River, and so on, thus creating a host of Little Pedlingtons: it would become perfectly sickening, as what with School committees, Licensing committees, etc., a settler would have nothing else to do but attend meetings to settle a lot of paltry disputes. The Little River Road Board will not be able, with the funds at its disposal, to carry out the work required, as the railway approaches Little River; the necessary work would be much better in the hands of the County Council. Mr Allan was in favor of turning out the Council neck and heels, as the members have done nothing but receive (ravelling allowances, and had absorbed £400 in the expenditure of £1000. Mr Buchanan replied, and said he did not see that this would apply as a reason for t>o County Council being ousted, as the Council could have supervised the expenditure of a much larger sum for the same cost or thereabouts If such is tho case, it appears to me to be a great pity the Road Boards were not done away with at the first election of the County Council, for then the Council could have done all the work the Road Board have done at little more than the present cost of working the Council. There can be no doubt there is nothing to prevent the County Council taking upon itself the whole of the functions of the Road Boards, and giving full satisfaction to each, district, as most of the main roads are now made. There is evidently a feeling among the ratepayers of the Little River district that one or the other of the bodies must be done away with, and I am fully satisfied it ought to be the Road Boards.— Yours, etc., LOOKER ON.