The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1926. COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 May 1926, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. FRIDAY, MAY 28, 1926. COUNTY GOVERNMENT.

On "Wednesday tlie members of the Westland County Council assembled for the. annual meeting, the special purpose of which was the election of a Chairman for the ensuing twelve months. The choice of the Council fell on .Mr Jelfries, the senior member of the Council, who had hold tho honorable post on a previous occasion —in 1922. The retiring Chairman, .Mr Chestermau, was able to make a favourable report- on the position of the Council, which had carried through the work of the year-.satisfactorily, and the roads for this season of the year wore better than hare been for some time past. The essence of good County Government it was suggested by one of the members was to reduce the rates and give hotter roads! If that be so, members will have something, of a problem ahead of them, tint the ratepayers will have realised ere this that with the changed class of traffic the introduction of the swiftmoving vehicle, often carrying very heavy loads, calls for more upkeep, and a greater charge must result. The only possible way to reduce rates in such circumstances, is to put more of the cost of the upkeep on the vehicles responsible dfiroeily for -tlie higher charge of maintenance. The Council has a duty in that respect in pressing for the payment of the heavy traffic fees, and the enforcem nt of the regulations governing loading and speed. "Where the latter are exceeded and extra damage is being done, the Council still has the right to recover the cost of the damages. This will not he any undue restriction of industry, for it is manifest that the maintenance of any industry should not depend oil any other resources for its transport facilities than its owii revenue producing means. It is quite unfair that the rates should he used for that purpose, for rating powers were not imposed to deal with tlie cost of extraordinary traffic. The Council, however, has anticipated possibilities with regard to heavy traffic on the roads bv providing certain machinery to deal with repairs and maintenance; The newly elected Chairman has expressed the opinion that more use should he made of tho machinery, and Mr Jelfries is quite right in that contention. It is impossible to peruse the many motor journals now ill circulation from all parts of the world without realising the extensive, the very extensive, use made of roadmaking and maintenance! machinery. The mission of such plant is to cover distances more quickly and by operating over lengths of road in a brief period improve and continue to improve the road surface. No doubt much more can be done in that direction by the Westland County now that the plant has the benefit of a second lorry, and an improvement can lie looked for with some eonfifdenee. The County policy in the late past of renewing all culverts in concrete must be another factor to ensure a saving in regard to subsequent maintenance! At tlie same time it has to be borne in mind that the County area is a large one, and there is a very great length of mileage to attend to. Year by year the Council’s responsiblitie.s are being added to by road extensions, so that costs in one respect must be an increasing amount. With that increase to minimise the aggregate result. calls for economies in ope rating, and tin’s can come not by skimping, but by a better use of the plant. There is therefore a field for more intense management, for better organisation, and for the application of an economic system. The roads and bridges are the first charge of a County Council, but other obligations are thrust upon it nowadays, and eontriliutiotis are called for under the statutes in regard to which the local body has no voice or very little say in the expenditure; yet these outgoings bear on the rating question also, so that the task of the County Council is not a light one. Still, in the face of many difficulties, the Council if it has not prospered greatly, has done well to bold its own, and meet its engagements readily. The traditions in that respect are good, and at the same time the ratepayers have not been levied upon unduly. That good management requires to lie fully maintained for the future, and we doubt not the newly appointed Chairman will do bis part in regard to County government.