The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1893. Pohangina Road Board

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 113, 14 March 1893, Page 2

The Feilding Star. TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 1893. Pohangina Road Board

♦ Is connection with the position taken up by the Government in regard to the £6000 loan for road making applied for by the Pohangina Road Board, we may state that we do not think the members of that unlucky body are altogether to blame. If a mistake has been made, and it is considered by many as only an irregularity which is covered by section 40 of the Loans to Local Bodies Act, it was done from an earnest desire to push on as quickly as possible with a much needed work. None of the members of the Board anticipated that the Act debarred preliminary steps being taken before the special order adopting the Act was gazetted, which was done as soon as practicable after the Board was formed, and before the Poll of Ratepayers was taken. Further, the Local Bodies Loans Act provides that the notification of the result of the poll in the Gazette shall be conclusive evidence that the raising of the loan lias been duly authorised ; and that all proceedings and things under the Act in relation there to havu been lawfully taken and done. This being so, the Colonial Treasurer would be quite safe in paying over the amount of the loan, and it is considered that the Board would have a good case against the Treasurer to compel him to pay it over. It would appear as if the money were required in the coff rs of the Treasury till after the close of the financial year. The Colonial Treasurer was advised on 26th January that the money was voted for, and particulars required by the department were then forwarded, and it was not till more than a month had elapsed that the alleged irregularity was discovered. [In our issue of November 15th last year we pointed out that this contingency would very likely arise.]

It is well for the Pohangina ratepayers that they will have an early opportunity of placing some better men on the Board. The latest folly proposed by the Chairman is to have a commission set up to enquire into the matter of the share of the liability of the Pohangina Road District, as formerly a part of the Kiwitea Road District, in connection with the Onepuhi bridge over the Rangitikei river. Surely this could be allowed to stand over "until the Board is in funds," even if it were necessary. For our part we do not think it is, because, accepting the decision of the Counnis- [ sioner in the previous instance as a basis, the respective liabilities of the Kiwitea and Pohangina Districts could be readily adjusted by any capable accountant. But it would appear that the remarkable members of this very remarkable Board have only one thought — viz., to squander money regardless of the fact that their fellow ratepayers look to them for the economical conservation of both rates and borrowed money.