Correspondence

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 4, 5 July 1893, Page 2

Correspondence

PROPOSAL TO FORM THE KIWITEA ROAD BOARD INTO A COUNTY. TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR. Sir, — Before entering upon the subject of my letter, allow me to congratulate you on the appearance of your paper ns a daily, and also to say I wish you all success. I have thought that your paper would be of even greater service, if you could manage to arrange for a series of articles from local farmers on subjects of interest to the farming community, such as the " Management of Stock " " Best kinds of fences " '• Grasses for the districts " and a vnnerty of other subjects that could not fail to be of value to the many new settlers in tins district, most of whom are unacquainted with farm work, might 1 nlso suggest that you endeavour to Biipply a fuller account of the various stock snles, the bald abstract of prices usually published is very misleading, whereas a few comments on the condition and class of sheep offered would be a great boon to those who cannot afford to attend every sale, and a reliable forecast as to whether a rise or full in prices is likely to be permanent, and the reason for the opinion given would, I take it, be most valuable and would soon make the Feilding Stau a necessity in every farmer's home. With regard to the formation of the Kiwitea Road Board District into a •• County," I must confess I am writing to obtain information. I should have thought the Bill which is to be seen at the "Feilding Court" a place not in the Road District should have been copied and placed at the Tost Offices throughout the district. I have been informed that a •' County " would haye power to strike a variable rate, whereas a Road Board has not, if this is so, I do not consider a change necessary, as the striking of a variable rate would, I am euie, be an injustice in a district where farms are both large nud small. The small farmers need more roads bocause the land has to be cut into smaller sections, and each one must have access, and tho small farmer la least able to pay a heavy rate. Some of the ridings in the proposed new county would comprise large farms aad settled districts where of course there is less roadage re« quired, and there I presume a small rate would be struck, though they would be better able to pay a large rate than in the riding where a heavy rate would be struck. I think the settlers here should insist on a general rate, the proceeds of which should be spent in any part of the district most needing it. I feel sure the New Zealand farmer is being overtaxed and should look after his interests. lam called upon to pay in rates this year, a sum equal to a 20th part of my income and yet cannot walk along the road without encountering mud up to my knees, and if I ride I have to crawl along looking out for the terrible holes. How is it tho Goyernmemt does not contribute to the support of main roads ? It does not look like encouraging settlemeut to treat the settlers so shabbily. Surely they must have forgotton the proverb " That the farmer works for all," ho goes back into the bush to win a home, puts up with many discomforts, and is in addition treated by the Government to a baptism of mud, which often meaus most serious loss to him. People who lire in towns pay very small rates to their Councils, often not more than one farthing in the pound, whilst the settler has to pay " three-halfpence " and yet it is the country that supports the town, and but for the " country cousin " the town would dwindle and die. The Government does not do enough for the country, but lays out for itself a centralizing policy that is not only unfair but ruinous to the Colony as a whole. I am told the roads in various parts of the distrfet are most unsafe where cuttings have been made, due to the fact of skimping on the part of contractors and neglect or worse on the part of the engineer. Instead of the road being cut out sufficient to make a solid track, one half of the roads in these dangerous places are made of the loose earth shoveled out and often criminally packed up with logs, etc., but no one will speak out neither " Wardens," nor would be wardens, for no one likes to make himself unpopular, thero are so many wheels within wheels. I am, etc., Bkoako Tyke.