The Patea Mail. Established 1875. TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1883. COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Patea Mail, Volume VIII, Issue 978, 2 January 1883, Page 2

The Patea Mail. Established 1875. TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1883. COUNTY AFFAIRS.

- -O—The County Council will meet tomorrow, and we presume that one of the matters to bo dealt with will bo the Auditor’s report. The question which ratepayers are asking throughout the County, and to which they have a right to demand an answer is Arc the Council going to take any steps to carry out the Auditor’s recommendation ? That recommendation is, “ that a public prosecution should immediately be instituted by the Council for the recovery of these sums,” meaning revenues unaccounted for by the Treasurer and Dog Tax Collector. Public opinion is strong over this County business, the more so because many of the ratepayer arc being called upon to make up the deficiencies themselves. And in this way. Summonses have been issued for all outstanding rates. Many of those rates have been paid and the receipts mislaid or lost. These unfortunates will have to pay twice, therefore they will ho contributing to make up the defalcations of the Clerk. We arc not surprised then to hear on all sides expressions of disgust and disapproval at the long period of inaction which the Council has indulged in. There was a previous case of embezzlement of the dog tax by the collector, and nothing was done to put that straight. Now there is a still greater offence committed, and the Council calmly allow month after month to go by without any sign. Would (hoy submit to have their own pockets picked and say nothing ! Wo think not. Then why should they allow the public purse to bo depleted, and permit the despoiler to go scot free. Wo can tell them that this affair has to be sifted to the bottom. As will be seen in another column the substance of the report has been published in Wellington, right under the nose of the Government as it were, and, if the Council have not the courage, to do their duty, then it is time the authorities interfered. Duty is at times an exceedingly unpleasant task, but it should, nevertheless, be unflinchingly carried out. The Council, in the present instance, have not to devise a course to pursue. 'That is laid down for them clearly by the Provincial Auditor, who represents the law and the Government. What they have to do is to give effect to his recommendations, lest a greater evil should come upon them. We ask (hem, therefore, in the name of the public, the long-suffering ratepayers, to east aside their apathy and deal with this unpleasant business with a firm hand once and for all.