THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1913. THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 57, 7 January 1913, Page 2

THE Pukekohe and Waiuku Times PUBLISHED TUESDAYS AND FRIDAYS. TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1913.

THE COUNTY COUNCIL.

"We nothing extenuate, nor set down aiiqht in malice."

In tbe course of his letter which appeared in Friday's "Times," Mr J. Henry, who represents Mauku riding, said theie appears to be considerable want of knowledge amongst ratepayers as to the functions of the County Council. If that be ho it is apparent that ratepayeis do not read the very full reports—which regularly appear in the "Times" of the Council's proceedings—as attent.vely as they should. 'lhe most important justification that this paper had for its establishment was that the ratepayers had no convenient means of knowing anything about the business transacted hy local bodies. Reports or the various meetings were not published, and consequently the need for conference or critieit<m did not appear. Since the "Times" came into being, however, it has been a ratepayer's own fault if he has remained with bis mental eyes shut to tbe doings of his repiesentatives. We have published columns of the utterance* of County councillors, and those gentlemen, who are as a whole level-headed men of public experience, appear to us to have made the (ouncil's position to clear that he who runs may read. We are sure that not a single member of the Council deßires the merging of any Road Board for the purpose of his own aggrandisement. Although there is much to be said for the

splendid and self-sacrificing work of Koad Board members it seems to us that it is inevitable that the Road Boards will eventually merge into the County. 'lhe Council has practi cally decided to equip itsilf with an extensive and modern road-making plant, and it is expee'ed that by next summer h comprehensive sheme of work will be under way. Tne necessary corollary to the new obligations created will be an increased rate, an 1 at the last Council meeting it was suggested that r.ext year the rate payable to the County would be one penny—four times as much as was paid this year. Just as dual control is bound to become fruitful of misunderstanding, to is a dual rate—Cinnty and Road Board—bound to become irksome. We Know that in some districts there is a ve r y decided feeling against merging ar.d we da not purpose urging any reason in favour of it. Bu* judging from past experience, and from a consideration of the conditions which exist in thh county at present, we do not h sitate to say that cooner or later all t>e Road Boards within its boundaries will merge with the Franklin County Council. At the same tine we are sure that those Road Board* which elect to remain in their autonomous state will continue to dr; giod work for their various localities, ar.d Ihe " "'im??," as in the will be always ready to assist ttie Boards in every possible way.