DISTRICT ROAD BOARD ELECTIONS.

Evening Star, Issue 2939, 20 July 1872, Page 4

DISTRICT ROAD BOARD ELECTIONS.

To the. Editor. Sir,—A meeting of the ratepayers of Mornington was held at the SchooJhouae qn Wednesday evening last, for the purpose pf discussing the new Road Ordinance, and notwithstandingthe inclement weather between 60 and 70 persons, ratepayers from the immediate neighbourhood, attended. Mr George Matthews presided. A considerable number of the clauses of the Ordinance were read and freely commented upon, but those mere especially bearing an immediate Influence upon the forthcoming election In this particular district. The meeting expressed much gratification at having had the opportunity of. deriving some little intelligence upon subjects to which they had heretofore been in utter ignorance, and their future action, according to promise, will be guided thereby. Sir, doubtless some improvements were necessary under the former system of Road Board management in this Province, and could have been introduced to great advantage with economy of purpose; but the iutroduction of this great unwieldy machine so suddenly launched into operation, must, I think, cause a considerable revolution tn the social eluents of society as at present constituted. Groat bungling and great expense, for which the people are not altogether agreeably prepared, are likely to attend its working ; but perchance wiser heads than mine may see it in a more favorable light. Again, Sir, by clause 21 of the Ordinance every person will be deprived from the privilege of voting if not rated at the rate of LlO per annum—that is to say, if my neighbor is rated at 9a 9cl and myself at 10s, I can vote, and bid him hold his tongue. By clause 127 the Boards are empowered to establish their offices within five miles outside the boundary of any district, and the borrowing powers are so concocted as to give the Boards, if so disposed, the power of plunging the district into heavy and seriovis responsibilities, or cause the ratepayers extraordinary trouble and exertion—that is to say, a petition signed by twothirds of the whole number of voters within thirty days to prevent it ; and this dose can be repeated annually. Sir, to me the whole thing smells of a combination to establish a premature, wouldbe aristocracy, invented with undue authority, and which, if exercised in the same spirit as that in which the originators of the Bill displayed in. its compilation, will prove a serious obstruction to the progressive welfare of this Province, which no one will regret more than Mornington. July 19.