THE TOWN BOARD

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 381, 16 October 1908, Page 2

THE TOWN BOARD

(TO THE LDITQB.) Bia,—Sinoe the n inflations passed by thai reosnt nfdbtfijg of ratejiray'orp the Town Board appear to. need an apologist for their existence. I do not propose to take c pou myself that task ; for, I believe, r,hey would prefer to find their justificaiion in what they have done to promote the welfare of the place. The ratepayers are sure to give them an attentive and fair bearing before pronouncing upon their efforts; for the previous board have yet. to publish tbeir annuel balance sheet, anduihow that they have done, a? much as was possible, with the funds available from collected rates. No doubt the chairman of the late Board will enligban the ratepayers upon tbe neoesEkiy bit striking a rate of three psnee in the pound to provide ways and means, in order to remove any erroneous ideas of the board’s income and expenditure. The dissatisfaction expressed at the want of evidence of of Work done during the period of tbe past Board’s existence may be explained by want of funds to do anything worthy of .notice. Those of your raaI ders, who remember the days of the Vigilance Commute, and the Railway League, and the sort of scratch meetings hurriedly gathered together to ventilate a grievance or a’k a boon, that tbe wrkacd expense of the meeting fail on tbe shoulders and pockets of ojew enthusiasts, seeking to pro mote and advance th>) place will have hoped that a constituted body like tbe Lown Board, representing tbe ratepayers, with regular monthly meetings adequate funds, proper reco ds, and connectedly, speak with more authority and make more headway for r.he to we than a Vigilance Committee could. If tbe arguments in fstonr of forming a Town Board we-e good at its inception they should not have lost any of their force.or applicability now. The need of such a body should be strongly emphasized by the want of progress tbe place has made daring tbe past few years. There a:re important matters. pending which require the services of 'Some authority and executive/ and should engage the earnest attention of the ratepayers and such a Board. What more beuefiotout protection could be undertaken by the Board for tbe well-being of the dwellers in tbe town than the initiation of some schpipe of sanitation within cur means? We dwell in a fool’s para-' dise until this matter is intelligently treated. The cleanliness of the town cannot be left with impunity to wind and tide,. There are those on the ‘ prose it B;{*rd who cm speak with exexperience and authority on such a question. Before some epidemic aria ing from foul conditions carries off valuable lives, and leaves us io mourn tbeir loss, and lament our wane of prudence; tbe quasi >n should have been dealt with suitably io our income. There is too, the importance of fixing the street levels upon which rests so muh concerning tbe drainage of tbe town ; and the erection of buildings, which must be done so as to prevent many vexati ns costly alterations, and perhaps litigition. Should the Boardin its wisdom devise some workable plans for these t vo matters, which will from tbe beginning be ffi»vourable to the continuation of tbeir schemes, to tbe advancement of the place, instead of involving the town in constantly recurring costly alterations, they should 1 have carried the gratitude of the in- ; habitants. Left to adjust themselves ' according to circumstances rather than ! method they must become an ex peni sive patchwork, and a constant source ! of trouble. At the same time tbe town ; requires a recognised mouthpiece to ■ utter our grievances, and to apply for redress in matters concerning charitable aid, local rates, occupation and rating of native land, railway connection, mails, etc. Tbe position of Kawbia as most suitable locality on the harbour for the premier town will not long remain unchallenged. Who is then to be its advocate ? It is remarkable that the same issue nt the local paper, which calls together a meeting of settlers in one part of tbe district for the purpose of joining an operative county, convenes a meeting of rae payers in tbe principal town, some of whom express a wish to efface the ifselves from the management of affairs which must closely concern them. It is not the spirit of an English democracy, true to itself, to set aside its powers, its responsibilities and its duties, and allow others from the outside to control its taxation and expenditure ; but rather to grapple with its difficulties and to work out its progress as host it can with the means at band. I feel confident the inhabitants of Ka whia are not wanting iu that nf s if n ivo'-nment, that bag won so much ■ ti wh for British Mvihzitiou .u .. r ’grass, and that they will unde take ’ heir duties and privileges as tbey un- ; demand them.—Youraeto., E. W. BUOKERIDGE. j (TO THE EDITOH.) Bir,— ln your badirg aft'clu of o.’ tober 2nd you state t'nu th® aqit dlo ■ over tbe raiing “is largely au-c of native lands.” I, with a • r ratepayers, who attended Mr Langley’s meeting fully appreciated tbe stand taken by him and believe be is correct in s vying that primarily the trouble starts over native land But that is. not n’l the trouble and it is well to ■ peak plainly, and what it in nibst ratenayers minds,, and that is that under the condilions io which we are living for the late Bos,rd to strike a 3d r ue on top of the County rate was an error of judgment. There are only two ways for it. It’s all vary well to

say tbe rate was advertierf, but most ! ratepayers have their hands full, and when half-a dozen people are elected to look after the interests of the town they are supposed to do eo, /I would like io know, was the rate struck by a full Board or one person. Mr Jona than told us at the meeting that so few people paid rates that they bad to make it a3d rate to raise £B5. But he did not say why the money was wanted, where it was to be used, what was

the urgency, or what kind of justice iis to call on tbe few to pay for the many. We all know that the Board came before its time. But that is nc reason why members should lose tbeir heads, Then see bow unfairly the rate falh on some people. Take one instance : a ratepayer took a Maori leaat' of a few acres to run a cjw. Under the new valuation be will have to pay for rales alone 26s an acre. Let Mr Langley stand to bis guns and not be soft-soaped over, and tbe ratepayers will do tbe same, and if we can’t get things more satisfactory, do away with tbe Board and revert to tbe County Council.—Yours, etc., OLD RESIDENT.