The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1,1883. Suspension of the Counties Act

Feilding Star, Volume IV, Issue 77, 1 December 1883, Page 2

The Feilding Star. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1883. Suspension of the Counties Act

In our report of the proceedings of the laPt meeting- of the Oroua County appears a statement in reply to a question put by Cr Bailey, as to the progress ol the petition for the suspension of the Counties Act within this County. The reply given by Mr Brvy, in whose hands the matter of obtaining signatures to the necessary petition has been placed, was to the effect that the petition had not been , signed so readily as was expected, and there was a large amount ot indifference manifested by the ratepayers in the matter. The County .system. as appiied to the new County of Oroua, has hardly had a trial yet, and so the indifference of the ratopa^ers may be accounted tor partially. On the oth^r hand, the indifference displayed by the councillors thetns lves may have exercised a deterrent influence. We believe that «ach councillor was elected on the distinct understanding that he was in favor of suspending the Act as eoou as ever this could be conveniently and legally effected, without in eny way sacrificing the general interests of their constituents. The Taranaki people have given the Couutifs Act a fair trial, and this is the result of their experience, as given in the Taranaki Herald : — '* It is evidently not giving satisfaction in this district. Our columns week after week bear evidence that there is a persistent ei»deavor on the part of settlers in the country districts to have the County system abolished in Taranaki Meetings hare been held, in different pans or- the County, and the almost unanimous opinion is that the Counties Act should be suspended. Although no. thing has been suggested to take the place of that which the ratepayers purpose to destroy, we cannot but think they have good groui ds tor complaint at the present over-govern-ment going* ou in their midst. At present there is a County Council, consisting ol nine members, of which one is a paid chairman, and from 18 to 20 Road onardu, some of which are not larger than good siaed farms. Had the theorists abolished the ftoad Boards when they did the Provinces, and fubtitituted County Government in its place, or if they had left the Road Boards an. i given them extended jiowers and not created Counties, they might have been made to develop into useful institutions and we should noi then have heard the complaints oi over-government coming fro>n all quarters. The writer goes on to ! suggest the amalgamation of the ttoad j Boards with the County Guuauil, and

not the destruction of either. The best course, we think, would be . to reorganise the whole system. Let the Uoad Districts be reduced in number, «nd the Chairman from each Btnd u delegate to the Couucil when matters for the general welfare of the County could be discussed from every j point of view. By this means the County Council and Roud Bourds would be a united body, working tor the benefit of the whole instead of separate bodies, each trying to " grab" all it can for its particular district We h»ar a great deal about local " self government,' 1 but few really define what is meant by those words. The theorists have carried thoir view to such a fine point that all is chaotic confusion. But facts are stubborn things, and the fact of being ovr-sro-vernedismakinjiitselffelt in the | ockei to an uncomfortable extent, for at present the machinery necessary to carry on the County Council and Hoad Boards takes no small porrion of the income of the country districts, which could be far better spent in making and opening up the roads to enable the settlers to get to their homestead;-, which are «t present almost inaccessible in many parts of the district."