THE Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1879. OUR COUNTY—THEN AND NOW.

Manawatu Herald, Volume I, Issue 77, 27 May 1879, Page 2

THE Manamatu Herald. TUESDAY, MAY 27, 1879. OUR COUNTY— THEN AND NOW.

«> A few days ago, we chanced to drop across a copy of the Manawatu Times of July 19. It contained what was evidently an "inspired" letter from its FeUding correspondent, in which the writer strongly advocated separation from the southern portion of the County, and dealt out some strong charges against both the Eepresentatives of the southern Hidings, and the administration of the late Chairman, Mr Thynne. It was stated in effect that the cost of administration was too great ; the working expenses of the County were compared with those of the Highways Hoards, (o the detriment of the former, though the conclusions drawn were doubtful. The writer then, referring to the great blessings that would have resulted if Mr Halcombe had bee a elected Chairman, instead of Mr Thynne, said : — "Tho [separation] movement would be retarded, no doubt, by having the gentleman pointedly referred to [Mr Halcombe] as Chairman, as his greater official experience iv matters of government would, no doubt, have secured greater economy in the working, and his casting vote would also equalise the voting power ot the Council so far as to secure fair play to the eastern Hidings." The desired opportunity has occurred. The revolution of time has brought about certain changes, as the result of which a northern man (though not Mr Halcombe) now sits in the County chair, and has since last November administered the affairs of the County. We utterly fail to see any great improvement that has taken place in the administration of County affairs, whilst, were we so disposed, we might now make the same charges against the Upper District Hidings, that were so freely levelled at these portions of the County when a Southern man was Chairman. On May 20, we published an able letter upon the County Estimates, signed by "Foxton," in which the present position of the Conuty finances is pointed out to be most unsatisfactory* and the shilling rate an absolute necessity to the Upper District Hidings, whilst it is felt throughout the whole of the other four Hidings to be a grievous burden.

Let us glanco briefly at the figures set forth by the County Estimates. The debit balances of tlie Upper District Ridings are as follow : — Manchester .. .. £1395 Kiwitea (553 Taonui „ „ . . 662 £2510 The indebtedness of the Lower District Hidings is very small compared with the above. It is as follows : — KawaKawa £180 Awahon 505 Jloro>vhenua 29 £714 Tho Oroua Riding, credited with a balance of £24, which reduces the indebtedness of the four Southern Hidings to £690, as against £2510 owinj^ by the Northern portion of the County. But the reply may be made," Yes but our income is so much greater." Well, if we are to accept tho " estimates" as correct, the examination ia again in favour of the South. The following is the estimated income for the Northern Ridings: — Manchester £2851 Kiwitea 425 Taonui 80(5 £3082 The Ridings in the Southern portion of the County show considerably more than the abovd, as follows : — KawaKawa „ .. £1101 Awahou 1213 Oroua 1033 Horowhenua .. .. 24 S £3595 Our correspondent, "Foxton, 1 * printed out that the interest upon an overdraft is " payable by the County as a whole." We are then this posi% tion. That the Northern Hidings i have incurred debts to, the amount of £2510, whilst their total estimated income is only £3082. The Southern Ridings, on the other hand, are in debt £690, or only a little less than one«*fifth of the amount owing by the North, whilst their income is estimated at £500 more than that of the three Northern Ridings. Therefore the Ridings of Awahou, Kawakawa, Oroua, and Horowhenua are being bled to fatten the Upper District. "We, who have been husbanding our resources, are now compelled to pay interest on the debts contracted by Manchester, Kiwitea, and Taonui Ridings, notwithstanding the fact that our annual income exceeds their vaunted revenue by over £500. The Chairman has repeatedly re* minded Councillor Gower of ihe indebtedness of his Riding, when he endeavoured to push forward pressing works; but surely the Chairman might, in view of the estimates before us, have reminded Councillors Macarthur, Halcombe, Carr, and Linton, that they had severally " outrun the constable" to a prodigious extent. Should tho correspondent of the Mauawatu Times of July be still extant, he will probably now see that no very great imp rovement has taken place, and that the question of who presides over tlw Council has made no difference "in the salary." At the time when the " separation " fad was so much worked upon,thesouthern men were called •' tyiannical," and the despotism of a majority was groaned about. Were it not that our own representatives have had dust thrown in their eyes, and been hoodwinked, we should be inclined to say that the Southern Ridings are suffering now from the tyranny of a wily minority, who may say, " Being crafty, we caught them with guile." The present financial position of the County is most unsatisfactory, and this is owing to the action of the Upper Manawatu Ridings. They are weighed down with debt to such an extent as almost prohibits them from undertaking new works, and in consequence, to keep their heads above water the rates throughout the whole County are doubled ; and this done, with Jesuitical foresight, just at a time, when the Foxtou-Sandon railway is about to involve a further rate. We have no wish to coy over spilt milk A strong protest should have beun j made months ago, by the southern i men when the' votea were applied j for, which necessitated the extra ! rate. We are sure that had the j positions been reversed, the matter would not have been accepted in the samo quiet way. We trust that even now the Councillors will enquire as to what their position is likely to be, should the Land Fund not realise what it is expected to, and how the whole of the Ridings will be affected, should there be a difficulty about exceeding the lawful overdraft, and further, in what way the present dobt will be repaid, should the Land Fund and Government subsidies cease. Should the two extra sources of income (Land Fund and subsidies) prove wells without water, the ratepayers of Awahou may wish that Mr Thynne had been returned to watch and check the manoeuvres of the Northerners, and the whole of the Southern Ridings may have cause to regret; that the same gentleman is no longer Chairman of the County Council.