King Country Chronicle Wednesday, April 3rd, 1912. OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 453, 3 April 1912, Page 4

King Country Chronicle Wednesday, April 3rd, 1912. OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The situation created on the Ohura County Council in connection with the Mangakara road incident is regrettable in the extreme. It is moreover, a striking argument in favour of the simplifying ol the method of dealing between the local authority and the Government with respect to carrying out local work. Had a more direct method existed, free from the complications of red tape it is safe to assume an entirely satisfactory solution of the Mangakara road difficulty would have been achieved without the slightest friction, and instead of an urgent work being indefinitely hung up the settlers would have had the aatisfactipn of seeing something accomplished towards making their existence in the backblocks somewhat more in keeping with the demands of progress. It is to be hoped sincerely the time is fast approaching when the matter of carrying, out road works will devolve entirely upon the local authorities, and that a permanent businesslike system will be adopted in the interests of those who are undertaking the work of breaking in the wilderness, and making productive the lands which have hitherto lain waste in the country. Probably in no district in the Dominion are the elementary needs in tha matter of roads so urgently required as in the Ohura, and certainly no district in the Dominion will pay better for the filling of these needs. Sucli an example as that disclosed by the Mangakara incident indicates clearly the necessity for hearty co.>p; ration on the part of all concerned in the ell'orr, to provide decent facilities for the backblocks. The road is merely in the initial stage, and both widening and bridging have to be done before it can be dignified by the name of a road; yet we have the

example of departmental ineptitude' causing a clash which eventually developed into a seriouß squabble, in which the interests of deserving settlers were summarily sacrificed. In this connection it must be obvious to all that the members of the council are not entirely free fro/in blame. The first and moßt essential point which has to be accepted by a person entering public life is that personal feeling or prejudice must be entirely subordinated to the common good. Upon the merits of the case under review we offer no opinion, but the fact that urgent public work, which might have been accomplished, is left undone is a sufficient indication to the public that a totally wrong Btate of things exists. The sooner this is remedied, preferably by the members themselves, or by the public, the better fur all concerned. The efficient administration of any local body depends largely upon the harmonious working and the loyal cooperation of the mnmbers. Upon the efficient administration of the local authority the present and future prosperity of (he district largely depends. This fact is self evident and requires no demonstration. It is so important, moreover, that we have every confidence the memberß, wise in the experience of past events, will have thoroughly realised the position before thn council meets again.