ONGO ROADMAN RANGER COMBINATION.

Feilding Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 18, 21 July 1896, Page 2

ONGO ROADMAN RANGER COMBINATION.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAB. Sib,— ln the Rangitikei Advocate of last Friday there was a complaint laid against the man who tries to do his doty: as roadman-ranger, &c., in the Ongo ward of the Eiwitea County. If yon will grant me space I will lay bis situa* • tion fairly before yonr readers and after - reading it I don't think they will expect the man to give satisfaction or be per* feet in his several capacities. This road* man and ranger combination is a com* plete failure, for the work takes him one of two different directions and if he* passes in the morning the stock are turned out until afternoon, and if he does not pass in the morning the owners of the stock know he will not be there that day, and dodge him accordingly. This roadman has upwards of 85 miles of road under his care and he it expected to keep them in good working condition. More than two thirds of these roads are newly formed and rough tracks being blocked after rain, and there are rough bridges slapped up anyhow and with* anything, and continually needing repairs. Not a light job in itself for one ' man. On the suggestion of some Councillor it was proposed to make a ranger of this man and it was done, no one giving a thought that he has already . more than he can do. He is supposed to impound all stock straying on the County roads and make no destination of persons owning same. One ratepayer, as the correspondent of the Advocate says, tells him if he impounds any of - his stock he will not long remain on the roads. Another ratepayer comes along . and tells him there are stock running en the roads in a certain place and he is expected to down with the shovel and up with the whip and off to seize them. Result.— When he gets there the settler being on the watch for him strolls ont and tenders him a shilling which he has to take and receives his cattle, the ranger goes back home and the settler turns the stock out on the road again to eat his bob's worth. Is there any sense . in the affair expecting, a man to lose a ■ a day's pay of 6s 6d and receive ala after a ride of perhaps ten miles there and ten back on aa already overworked ■ horse ? The roadman receives the splendid salary of 6s 6d per day and is supposed to be a thorough practical man; fit to supervise the work of men who are put on to assist him with heavy . slips and who receive 7s per diem, sixpence more than the boss. The Government of the country are trying to suppress sweating and here publicly is a man robbed systematically and sweated to boot. The man behind the counter is provided with a half-holiday per week, and here a man has to eat his morning and evening meal by candle lieht, to get te and from his clay's work shovelling up to bis knees, often in slush. There is another man'swork saddled on him. Anyone travelling through this ward cannot' help noticing the state of the roads, no water babies, culverts blocked for miles, and every rain gouging the centre of the) road out and bringing down slips, creeks [eft without approaches being made to them, and miles of sixteen-foot roads formed with a barrier at every, creek where the contracts have not specified for anything to be done. The Council specifies for pipe culverts for its wards, and these blocks at the creeks prevent wheel traffic coming through safely. Only a week or two ago a dray was lying upside down on the road side with a load of culvert pipes (paid fc* by the ratepayers) smashed underneath it, half the cost of which would have made the road safe. On three different occasions at the next creek there have been, vehicles capsiaed. The Eiwitea County Couueil Lave placards posted throughout the county notifying anyone turning stock loose upon the roads are liable to a fine of £1 per head. If this bye-law was enforced I am sure the roads would soon be. free of stray stock, and tbe> roadman better able to keep the roads, in repair. Thanking- yoa in anticipation* I am, etc., Bush Residkkt, OnfO, July 13tb, 1896.