The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1877.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 5126, 28 August 1877, Page 2

The New Zealand Times (PUBLISHED DAILY.) TUESDAY, AUGUST 28, 1877.

Is it not nearly time that the House of Representatives began seriously to consider the propriety of actually doing something? If only out of charity for the “Lords”—who are going about in a morose frame of mind for want of work—it ought to try and pass a few useful Bills, so that those in the “other place” might have material for consideration and disenssion. - There is the amendment of the Municipal Corporations Act, for instance, or the even more pressingly required modification of the Counties Act. This latter, as everyone admits, stands greatly in need of improvement. There are some indeed who think it might be improved out of existence altogether with advantage. Among those holding this opinion are notably the members, of road hoards in various parts of the colony, their idea being that with increased powers they could do the work better and more cheaply than the counties. The former have in several cases declared their willingness to undertake the management of the main as well as district roads in consideration of receiving a corresponding accession of revenue. At first sight this appears to be a good common-sense position to take; but as in most cases in which varying interests are concerned, there are difficulties in the way. One of these was well brought out at a meeting held in the South—to consider what steps should be taken to increase the power of road boards —by what may be called a liminary test resolution to the following effect—“ That as the main roads in, the neighborhood of towns have to sustain much of the traffic of the outlying districts, this meeting is of opinion that such roads are entitled to a larger expenditure than roads that are more remote, and that special provision should be made for this in allocating the funds available for distribution among the main roads.” This motion, embodying a fair and reasonable proposition, was not carried, the representatives of outlying road boards outnumbering those in the vicinity of towns. This is a strong confirmation of a statement— not now made for the first time— boards, with their subdivisional areas, are too deeply imbued with the spirit of localism to do justice to the main roads as a whole. Hence it may be questioned whether, instead of increasing the powers of the road boards, it would not be better to place not only the main roads but also the more important of the side roads under the charge of the county councils. By this means the duties of the road boards would be reduced to a minimum, as well as their opportunities for petty jobbery. This latter is rather a harsh expression ; but those who have had experience of the working of these institutions must know that in many cases it is’ the proper one to apply to the irregularities that have crept into their working. The valuations, for example, are anything but satisfactory. The valuator is usually some well-known resident, who is taught—if he does not know it intuitively—that he must bq careful how he “lays it bn” particular persons of special influence, or . woe be to his; chances at any future election. . Then, supposing the valuation fairly made, it is subject to revision by members of the Board, so that by the time it is operative it; is often, difficult to, assign the real authorship. Then again, there is often a good deal of underhand work about contracts. Some contractors are favored, while others are stringently dealt with. These and other-evils have been increased rather than diminished by abolition, for the simple reason that the controlling powers exercised by the Superintendents expired with them. In illustration of our meaning it may be stated that an instance has; been brought under our notice in which a road board recently passed a resolution to contract an overdraft of £3ooo' without any legal authority whatever ! The directions given by the Ordinance for borrowing money on the security of the rates, the appointment of trustees, making provision for sinking fund, <fcc.,’ were coolly ignored, and, as it would seem, there is at present no authority to call the offenders—for such they are—to account. Of course any ratepayer might, if he were inclined and had plenty of spare cash! and time, take proceedings in the Supreme Court; but how many are there prepared thus to make such a sacrifice in the public interest? Under all the circumstances then it would seem inexpedient at present, or in fact until a very great change has been made iri the constitution of road boards, to increase their powers. On the other hand there is some evidence to show that those of the county councils might be extended with advantage. ■