THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF ROAD BOARDS.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1230, 8 July 1872, Page 2

THE RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF ROAD BOARDS.

. - — , . .♦ — ', ; A petition, of which the following is a copy, was adopted at the last meeting of the Totara Road Board, and it was resolved that copies should be forwarded to the other Road Boards in the County. As action and co-operation regarding this petition are requested, and as a public meeting to discuss the same question will be held here this evening we publish it to extenso : — To the Honorable the House of Representatives of New Zealand in Parliament assembled. The petition of the undersigned Road ' Boards of Westland. Humbly sheweth — 1. That your petitioners are the elected representatives of all Westland, except the Boroughs 'of Hokitika and Greymouth. . 2. That, as such, their powers of usefulness have been greatly restricted by the County Council having wrongfully withheld, from the Boards all the revenue of the County, including the Land Fund. 3. That the subsidies to Westland Road Boards under "The Payment to Provinces Act, 1871," have been half of them appropriated by the County Government, and the distribution of the other half so much obstructed that in all cases great delay has been caused, and in some cases none of the subsidy has been paid, and that the cost of works where the subsidies have been paid has been greatly increased by the complications in the mode of payment. 4. That to levy rates on mining property is unjust, impolitic, and impossible to do with fairness ; that the tenure of such property depends, in most case's, upon occupancy and the possession of a " Miners' Right ;" that such tenure is forfeited by abandonment for twenty -four hours ; that its value cannot be ascertained approximately ; and that miners are? already taxed by " Miner's Rights," registration fees, cost of surveys, waterrights, a&d gold duty ; and their dwellings are assessed for the levying of Road Board rates.

5. That the power vested in the County Chairman of vetoing the rates is objectionable, and that— he being the elected head of a body which has been inimical to the Boards— Clause 93 of "The County of Westlana Act, 1867," should, therefore, be cancelled. 6. That tho Road Boards should have the control of all bridges, ferries, and

main roads within their districts, and power to levy tolls. 7. That the working of the County Government has been costly and unsatisfactory; that the Government has almost always been financially embarrassed, although in receipt, of large revenues ; that at present it is unable to provide for its voles—has large debts incurred by the deferred payment system— its borrowing powers are exhausted, and its land-fund reduced to an insignificant amount; owing, among other causes, to the depreciation in price, caused by using land in payment for works ; that the Government has failed to construct essential public works, and by grasping all the revenue has prevented the Boards from doing so. 8. That the Boards have -had so -little money at their command that, bntfor the subsidies under the "Payment to: Provinces Act," they would, probably, have ceased to exist.

0. That any subsidies which, may be granted to the Boards by the Colonial Government should be devoted to the construction of such new works; and first year's maintenance of such new works as shall have beep recommended by the Boards, where made and approved of by the Governor's Delegate; and the Boards 1 vouchers that such works or portions thereof are faithfully performed shall be sufficient authority to the paymaster of the County to pay the" sums therein named. 10. That the County of Westland would be better and far more economically governed by the Colonial Government taking over the control of harbors, gaols, police, administration of justice, and of waste lands; and by the Road Boards and Municipalities being endowed with all reserves within their boundaries, and having power to levy tolls, tax vehicles, strike fire rates, and make bye-laws for the management of their respective district*. , 11. That the receipts from land sales, less cost of Waste Lands Board and surveys, should be paid, monthly to the Boards of the districts where raised, and that the surplus revenue, if any, should be paid to the Boards, in proportion to the amounts received at the Warden's Courts in each district. 12. That, in the event -of the County Council being abolished, it would be advisable that the head of the County Government should be elected by the electors of the whole County, and that his term of office should not exceed three years. - ' : . - 13. That, should it be found necessary to retain a County Council, such should be formed of the head of the County Government (to be elected by the electors of the County) to act 'as. Chairman, and having a casting-vote orilyi and of two delegates from each municipality and road board, with restricted powers, in accordance with foregoing resolutions. ' 14. That Section 24, Sub-section 2, of the "County of Westland Act, 1867," should be amended, so that, in addition to the qualifications therein mentioned, all ratepayers who are hot in arrears at the day of nomination of candidates should be qualified to vote at any election.

Your petitioners, therefore, pray that your honorable House will be pleased to take the premises into your favorable consideration, and afford such remedy as to your wisdom may seem fit. - *V ' And your petitioners will ever prayl, _