THE COUNTY SYSTEM.

Dunstan Times, Issue 886, 11 April 1879, Page 3

THE COUNTY SYSTEM.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE DCSSTAK TIMER.) Sir It was supposed that one of the chief heuelits of the County System would he the placing of the control and supervision of the finances more immediately in the hands of those who provided them, who were consequently entitled tj the most complete information as to how. why and where they were being spent. In order to this information being obtained it is necessary that all the proceedings of our representatives, as such should be as open to the public as possible, and 1 am quite sure MiEditor that the ratepayers of this and the adjoining riding cntii ely agree with you in the remarks made by you on this subject in your last issue, indeed, many think it Strange that, our represent'!/ives themselves do not see that by the secrecy of their proceedings in the Council of late, they are depriving their constituenls of the best means of forming a judgment of their merits, besides leaving a door open for grave things to he thou-.-lit, if not said, thus destroying public confidence, and marring to a great extent their own usefulness. There is another subject which is exorcising the thoughts of the ratepayers here just now, that is the system of day labor which appears about to be resumed in the public works of the Comity. It is with the greatest surprise and dig :ust that the residents of these ridings view the resumption of this system, the evil of which they justly hoped they had got rid of for ever, alon with Provincialism itself. As it is only a short time since the Council altinned that it was desirable thst all public works should helot by ten ‘cr whenever practicable, it is to be hoped it will see the wisdom of adhering to that course in the future, and not stultify it«elf by adopting a system, the evils and abuses of which, under Provincial Government caused ir, to stink in the nostrils of the pe iple. Yours, &c.,— Ratepayer. Blacks, April f). 1870.

(TO TUB EDITOR oF Til K DT.'NSTAN TIMES.) Sir 1 for one am glad you have called the public attention to the questionable manner of some of the proceedings of the Vincent Council. I echo your question, why so much secrecy, wiien they are transacting public business. Their motive nmy be pood or not, —how is the public to know which ? Ic is evident they, as a ho ly, are snowing a very bad taste, whether it is one of an autocratic, stamp, or one of contempt to their constituents they know- th best However, the sooner they transact public business in a public building in a public manner, then more to their credit as a public body Yours, &c.,

J. R. Kemp. Bald Hill Flat. April Sth, 1ST!)