LAW AND LOCAL BOARDS.

Patea Mail, Volume III, Issue 241, 1 August 1877, Page 2

LAW AND LOCAL BOARDS.

(To the Editor of the Patea Mail.) Mn Editor —I think the Patea local bodies are fond of trying issues at law, with the ratepayer’s cash. In two cases they got slated, viz., Ivess v. Town Board, and Patea West lioad Board v. Southby. Now, sir, knowing exactly the feelings of the parties that were the prime movers in these affairs, they had no moral right, and the President Magistrate’s Court decided no legal right either, by giving a verdict, in both cases, against the local bodies. Spence Pu»ad, I see, is a torpedo of somewhat the same nature. The obstruction complained of would cost from two to three pounds to remove. lam not in a position, in this case, to sec who is legally right, but i think it shows a great want of common, or right sense, to go to law for such a petty affair. Why not settle the affair, if it is not clear who is by law responsible. Surely an arbitration can be got for a sura in dispute, not exceeding two or three pounds. People talk of nations resorting to war upon sometimes trivial matters, but suppose our Town Board was a kingdom, and the Chairman the king, and bis Councillors the ministers, I am afraid we should be like the Frenchmen in the Prussian war, getting licked through our own vanity, and then crying out ‘‘Treachery : we are betrayed,” and about two-thirds, or perhaps more, would believe it, not blaming the king ami bis ministers. To conclude, 1 think no public body is justified in going to law without being certain they have a good case. More anon. —Yours, &c., FIDDLE-DE-DEE.