DISTRICT HIGHWAYS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 22, 24 June 1871, Page 11

DISTRICT HIGHWAYS.

The Bill on this subject has been passed by the Council after a great deal of discussion. The machinery might have been improved, but we are glad that the principle has been- acknowledged, that all the lands in the province, over which the native title has been extinguished, shall be taxed lor the maintenance of district highways. It is not reasonable to expect that a law of the kind should give satisfaction to everybody. On referring to the letters and documents received from the District Road Boards, in reply to the Provincial Secretary’s circular, we find much difference of opinion expressed upon most of the points brought under (heir notice. They are nearly unanimous in favor of a court of appeal being appointed outside Eoad Boards, and of townships being subjected to special regulations ; tl oug'i possibly, with a valuation rating, the views expressed on this subject would have been considerably modified, while the objection of townships being included in road districts w’ould probably have been altogether removed. Seventeen out of twenty-nine, are in favor of the whole province being divided by an act of Council; but those in favor of large, and those in favor of small districts appear to be about equal. There are seventeen in favor of the main trunk roads being maintained by the Government; and a considerable number of these express themselves favorable to tolls, or a general land tax, to provide the funds necessary for keeping them in repair. It is on the subject of rating that the greatest difference of opinion is expressed. Seventeen are in favor of an acreage rate ; nine for assessment on annual value; and three for a mixed system. Only one out of the seventeen, who are in favor of an acreage rate, expresses himself in favor of such a rate being imposed, and most of them are in favor of the present mode of assessment. Out of the nine favorable to a valuation rating, the majority are residents in East Wairarapa or the llangitikei district, and some of these are not chairmen of road boards. Notwithstanding the outcry that has been made on the subject of rating, it would appear that a large majority of the road boards is in favor of the present system ; this is to say, an acreage rate assessed by the board of wardens according to the natural value of the land, and its proximity and accessibility to the road. Seeing, however, that the rate is imposed by an Act of Council, and not by the ratepayers at an annual meeting, which does not appear to have been contemplated when the Provincial Secretary’s circular was drafted. The letters sent in reply do not touch upon a subject which is really the chief feature in the new act. Our own view of the matter is that a minimum rate on all the lands of the province should have been imposed by law, and that the ratepayers, as now, should have had power to levy a higher rate if they deemed a higher rate necessary. To get the whole of the European lands of the province rated for the maintenance of district roads is, however, such an important point gained, that we are quite willing to accept the act with all its imperfections rather than that principles should be endangered.