PUBLIC OPINION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 1, Issue 64, 31 January 1913, Page 4

PUBLIC OPINION.

A COLUMN FOR THE PEOPLE Should The Road Boards Merge ? |TO THE EDITOR.! Sir,—l should like to point out to the ratepayers of the Pukekohe East Road District why they should not merge into the Franklin Council. Only metal is required on the roads. No engineers and other highly-paid officials are wanted. We pav hospital rate out of Government sutsidy on rates, and merge or not get as much as the Council. The Franklin Council is too big and unworKable, from the sea on the west to Wairoa oil the If it takes nine members to lcok after the district as a Hoard, how is one member going to do the work as a Council member? It will be like most counties: look after the main road, all other roads can 10-.k after themselves, if not they can strike! Special rates here and there through the ditiict to pay loan interest as well as paying County rates. No Ccunty Council can work as cheap as Road Boards, therefore, ratepayers in countie? have and do pay more rates than where they have Koad Boards. A Road Board can get a lean just as cheap an a Council. I think the loads in 'he district where the rates, general and special; have never exceeded or.e penny in the £, so that economy with good work has been done. If the district merges too Council with the same rates must put less metal on the roads, their working expenses being so much more, or if they do as much work their rates must be higher. 1 think no public bony (unless obliged to finish non-completed work) should borrow money now, interest and labour being too high. Lccal bodies should live within their means. All the roads do not need to be metalled in twelve months; nor all the land settled or public works completed. When money can be borrowed at the old rate the district could borrow £7OOO to metal the tack roads, and they need not have more than a total penny rate over the whole district made up as follows: —One farthing in the i'to pay interest on proposed £7OOO loan, one-eighth ot a penny tor last £3OOO loan, leaving five-eighths of a penny general rate, which would make £652 left for yearly expenditure. Let the Council fake over one Main road tnrough the district; let the Koad Boards look after the by-roads. Many Road Boards find this the best way, and that is why they refuse to go into the Counties. lam prepared to give my services for another term, if required.—l am, etc., JOHN HARTLEY.