LOCAL ADMINISTRATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 172, 18 June 1884, Page 3

LOCAL ADMINISTRATION.

(TO THE EDITOR OF THE STANDARD.) S IR) — Do you think it possible by any means to bring local intelligence to hear steadily for a time upon the existing Counties and Highway? Districts Ants ? I will not pretend that I know or can guess all that may have been intended by the Legislature tn be effected by moans of these Acte; but I think it may be certainly assumed that at least one purpose far •which they were passed, was to provide for the making and maintenance of ihe roads and bridge* shown upon the plans of counties and highway districts. Now, it is my humble opinion (1) Tkat however sufficient these Acts may >>c for other purposes which they may have been intended to serve, they are f° v 1C purpose I have mentioned radically wrong m prin ciple, and cannot possibly be worked satisfactorily ; and (2) That the manner m which our County Councillors and Highway Board men have hitherto attempted to work under them, is something worse . than childishly foolish, resulting m disappointments and grievous loss of time, money, and patience. I cannot suppose that so sweeping a condemnation of these respectable Acts of Parliament, and, if possible, still more respectable County Councillors and Highway Board men, will be readily or widely agreed to, and yet it is my settled conviction that it is entirely just and true. To the complaints of rate payers I have ever and al way s heard from Councillors "'and Wardens the game plaintive i epHes:— ■* iz. , "The Acls do not allow or enable us to do more than we do ; " and "We di£tko best we can with the scanty means at o a* disposal." I have never heard any other reply to complaints than one of these two, and these I hear constantly. I do not, however, propose to say anything at present as to the ' alleged defects m the Acts, because it is not loyally or directly m our power, as ratepayers, to amend Acts of Parliament ;" aud because if we can only amend the views and practice of our County Councils and Road Boards,, which is I think quite within our power, we shall have m them a lever more powerful even than dynamite to hoist our Parliament into rogiohs of justice and common sense, and to get the Acts amended that way. Suppose, for instance, we address our Councillors and Wardens to this effect. " Gentlemen, please to underr stand that we do not elect you. to do impossibilities; neither. do we elect you to do *' the best you can " with insufficient means ; neither do . we elect yOu to make this or that particular road or bridge. We do elect you to make or ..cause to be made within Home reasonable time all the roads shewn or to be hhewn on this plan of your county or ward. Now, although both wisdom and necessity require time for the work, so that all cannot be done* iu one year nor perhaps m ten years, yet it must never for a moment be forgotten that every latepayer is as much entitled to a road m due course as every other ratepayer ; therefore before you begin, you must see your way to finish. If at your first meeting, you cannot; see that means will be forthcoming to finish, within reasonable lime, the work to be done as shewn upon your county plan, and to keep every part us finished m constant repair, do not get into a flurry but trim yourselves steady. Remember, you have the entire county at your backs. Thus trimmed and ready, bring yourselves to a focus, and fire* straight off at our Parliamentary Representatives or candidates the imperative command, to vote straight and constant against all and every motion for the execution of any "Public Work" until the Minister of Public Work* shall bring down a comprehensive scheme to provide for and ensure the due execution of all public works, general and local." I have not the slightest doubt, but that such a scheme if ordered m this manner by the representatives of counties, would be very soon on hand, and then by the election of reasonably compel en t mon to do the work, it would all m due course be got done smoothly and well. — I am, &c. Ratepayer.