VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1222, 31 July 1885, Page 2

VINCENT COUNTY COUNCIL.

TO THE EDITOR. Sift—lt our County Chairman ia correct in his definition of the duty of the Council it ia quite time that an alteration was made iu that respect, and that some further extension of its duty should bo brought about. But as he soon after speaks of the rate falling principally on the shoulders of a class who were little able to bear it, cither he is not consistent in his doctrine and his practice, or the duty of the Council does sometimes go beyond levying rates and expending them in a fair and legitimate manner. Although it is not its duty by any means to find work for the unemployed, or attempt to relieve the depression, it may, it appears, show itself very tender and considerate to the class so ill able to bear its fair share of taxation as the one alluded to. Certainly if the_ ability of this class is only on a par with its will, it is in a truly pitiable state. That Councillor Pitches was right in his statement with regard to the roads will bo borne out by anyone who has been over them during the last month, and that it would have been wiser not to have reduced the rate until they had been put into a state fit for traffic must be clear to all who know the benefit conferod on the whole community by good roads ; notwithstanding that the unfortunate class alluded to would have to contribute to the expense as well as share in the benefit. Whatever may have been the state of the road on which the Chairman was so lucky as to travel in such a short space of time, the main road to Ida Valley was never in a worse state, and if it had been our worthy Chairman’s fate to have travelled through it, the chances are that he would have been two days and a-half going the same distance, instead of two hours and a half, supposing ho got through it at all. And, indeed, justice itself could not devise a fitter punishment than sticking him in this great bog (in company with half a dozen unlucky cockatoo’s with teams apparently settling down iu the mud for life) and compelling him to listen to the many and peculiar blessings invoked by them on him and his Council. Under such circumstances he would speedily become of the same mind as Councillor Pitches, and not content with merely keeping up the rate ■ would go iu might and main at the next* sitting of tho Council for such a loan as would enable it to wipe away at once and for ever this moving disgrace to the Council of which ho is the head ; thus proving that his repentance was sincere and earnest, and showing himself possessed of that amount of wisdom for which we had hitherto given mm credit. That his conversion may be thus brought about, as in duty bound we will ever nrav &c., &c.— r ’ Ratepayers of Ida Valley.