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Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1923, Page 2

(oji! prioripnl local body, tile County Council, appears from the reports made at this week's meeting, to have been rather confiding with sonic of its client-. Tile seUlcTs in one farming dird tirt leqtiired urgently a bridge, and pioferi, ,1 -eppnri in labor to secure the eviction. The Council accepted the offer in good faith, and went about the task of organising the supplies. These 011 tile ground, the settlers held hack, hut the Council 111 its good nature went on with the v.uik, hut without the settlers helping. Finally tile bridge was erected, and there leinained the approaches. Even this work wn« shirked and in the end the Council had to <h> the whole job Doubtless a useful lesson bain been learned for future guidance. In another instance the motor folk urged the purchase of road nu.chinnry to improve the highways, and promised to pay license fees. The Council went loi ward in good faith, ordered the mi(l.inerv and now it is here to he paid for. Meaiitimo the motor proprietors are demurring about the license tees te pay for the machinery and so eieatc a hiianeial stringency which prevents the Council meeting its wages payments for Chiistmas. 1 11 other woids the Council In's hemi “lot down '. and its s( ,!e r<'course is to <jjo on issuing suinin'uisos to recover the license fees piecemeal. Xo doubt this experience will he of tails- in preventing the Council being so cnibidiug, and in lutiuv transactions it will require something more tangible than simple promises to justify expenditure 011 a- subsidy basis. However, that is by tinway. The question of good roads is nt present value, and il i.s ol little use having machinery il there is not th - money to operate it. ’I he Council miv enforce it s new by-lny only by ,on 1 1 proceeding-' which are in themselves vexatious and slow moving. .Meantime the plain i-muni he used, and in this plight the grumbling with regard to the roads will continue. The Council may of i-nuise have reriilir.se to

stopping all heavy * radio if the repair work is brvond 11 - moans, that would |>e a blow to indu-tiw. Dm the | o.siti: 11 his now aii-'.n '.'-hen the Coumil

i- face to lave with a proposition in winch it can he no longer indulgent, but must look to the users ol the loads contributing a fair amount to the upkeep of the roads. The Council has kept faitii in procuring the machinery, amt il the roads are to benefit the users must do their part and contribute an equitable sum for the needs of maintenance and general improvements.

f | nk stringem v of the Comity linn nee will lead to the roads deteriorating as all that is reipiired cannot be done at. the moment. There will he necessarily. a curtailment in regard to maintenance, as there is not the funds lo meet iho cost involved. It is fortunate that this in■< ill's at a time of the joar win n wear and tear is not " serious. But without constant attention the roads under modem traffic will go hack. Those who arc responsible for flic resl rid ion of County finance, through failing to meet obligations must hear their share of the blame, and will have to put up with conditions which could he avoided bail it been po.-siblo to utilise the road plant as was intended from its first installation. It is understood tho stone-crushing plant will not he operating till late in .lun.iarv, and the mad roller till even later in fact till the necessary funds accrue to relieve the .stringency of the general account. The obligation is on the lifers of the roads to do their pint, ami until they do, it will be of little use complaining about indifferent roads for the general traffic.