King Country Chronicle Saturday, January 13, 1912. ROADS AND BRIDGES EXPENDITURE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 430, 13 January 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Saturday, January 13, 1912. ROADS AND BRIDGES EXPENDITURE.

Whatever may be the outcome of the present political situation there is one question of the highest importance to the country, and to the King Country in particular, which must he brought prominently before the Go vernment without delay. The expen diture of public money on roads anc bridges in new districts haa long beet the medium of loud-voiced complaints froti all quarters, and it is high time steps were taken to alter the method! that have given rise to so much dissatisfaction. That much of the dissatisfaction was due to the paucity ol the information accorded to the pub lie by the department officials, and tc the cloak of reticence adopted gener ally by those connected with the lieac office is beyond contradiction. Stil that there were other cogent reason; for complaint is undeniable. During the period of surveying and roading the lands of this district, prior to the setting up of local bodies of any sort, it was the obvious duty of the Government to carry ojt the work. However, with the advent of the county councils it might justly be claimed that the local authorities should be entrusted with the expenditure of all grants within the county boundaries. As a matter of fact this system was spuposed to have been inaugurated a few years ago, and councils were given grants to expend in certain instances. The Government, however, was not whole hearted in the matter, and whatever progress may have been made towards establishing such an eminently sensible method was totally nullified by hampering regulations. Officialism still blocked the way to a satisfactory system. The same elements exist to-day and exercise a detrimental effect on the settlement and business of the country in general. The strongest reasons can be advanced in advocating that our county councils should be entrusted with the expenditure of all grants within their boundaries and that every possible facility should be afforded tne councils in having the grants expended. In place of hampering regulations causing vexatious delays, and consequent loss of moneys and opportunity every assistance should be accorded to local bodies. local parliaments, just as much as the large parliament of the country, exist in thte interests of the community. They are, moreover, more thoroughly in touch with local requirements and can be depended upon to

utilise every penny they receive to the best possible advantage. Such safeguards as may be deemed necessary to conserve the interests of the Government can surely be provided without interfering with operations that are being undertaken, and a certain freedom of judgment should be allowed to the responsible and competent officials of the local authorities. This principle has been repeatedly affirmed by responsible Ministers and the institution of some such system was foreshadowed in the Local Bodies Bill which was to have been brought down next session. It should be tbe first duty of our local bodies to see that arch a system is adopted without delay. The benefits that would accrue thereby to such a district as ourß would be incalculable, and our councillors will be failing in their duty if they do not exert every effort to accomplish such a desirable object.