Neglected Footpath at Manurewa.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 283, 12 June 1917, Page 1

Neglected Footpath at Manurewa.

| To the Editor] Sib,—Whilst your issue of the 29th ult., dealt fairly accurately with the above subject, there are matters connected with that episode which I think will interest our ratepayers. The chairman is reported to have said that " he had given instructions to have the work done, but that he (Mr Pegler) would have to wait." This is not correct for when the writer called attention to the matter the chairman first put the blame oil the contractors. This held good till Mr Lupton explained that the contractors had nothing to do with the scoria for the footpath. Then the chairman said the clerk did not call his attention to the matter. The clerk proved that he did and said further that he received no satisfaction Then the chairman said it was a matter that he thought could well stand over until dealt with by the Board. The bare facts then are that the contractors deposited some 12 to 18 in. of soft mud in front of business premises and throughout several weeks of rainy weather no arrangements were made to even provide a temporary crossing. Although the chairman's attention was called to the matter the question may well be asked why was there the necessity of calling the chairman's attention to so small a matter and herein lies my contention thnt the system adopted by the Board of delega'ing i's rights and power to one or two men is in principle " bad."

Eeverting back to the February and March Board meetings and following Mr Lupton's notice of motion it was decided by the Board tocpend£loo on footpaths in the district. The chairman further moved that the £IOO be spent by a Works Committee, composed of Messrs Corin, Geo Coxhead and C. Lupton. The Inst named, tho <gh one of the Works Committee, together with the writer strongly opposed this, p< inling out th»t it was against Local (iovernment precedent and principle to put such lesponaibility into "a small subcommittee's bands. The writer affirmed that he would resign were he a member of the Works Committee rather than accept the responsibility. HoweveT, once again the chairman had his majority and so whilst t-exea men are elected to control the ratepayers' interests, three men (a majority tw->) were thus hbh to spend £IOO of tho IV ard's revenue just when and where tl.ey wished and it is now locil history, and a bye wor!, that the fir t shingled f. otpath laid down by the new Town Board was on Ba-ley'sKoal, whre the chairman lives This lonely footpath connected with lhu Valley Koad is over half a mile from tho stnt on

Quite recently the grass and weeds have ken chipp-d off the Post Office footp.ith at the cost of several pounds. Oontra.-t ihe. traffic there with that on BasLy's Eo d new footpath, and one wondcis how long th ; s latter monument will keep clean

But further by thus delegating its powers to the Works Committee the Board has placed the chai man in an autocratic position. The Boaid has no servant with any authority to act, so that where urgent matters crop up affecting a Board member or a ratepayer it means th it it may be several weeks' delay and that such member or ratepayer is entirely in the hands of one or two members of the Board, the Board only meeting monthly. In bringing the matter before the Board I contrasted this treatment with what I received from the Manurewa Road Board and I said further that no County Council, Road Board or Contractor, would mete cut such treatment, or \.ui any business place or residence in such a position. Referring again to Basley's Road, this is a new road taken over from the Papakura Valley Road. This latter body accepted dedication just prior to handing is over to the Town Board and the scoria road formation had not been rolled. This is not a serious omission but of course to have the road rolled would be a convenience to the chairman as well as to others living on that road so in November last before the advent of a Works Oommitteo this road was rolled at a cyst of £7 10s without the chairuun even consulting the Board.

So, ratepayi rs, to summarise the position : Wo have a chairman and a email sub-cooimiltee who respectively spend £~ 10i or £IOO just where and when they like, but it requires the full Board uiid a special motion to spend a low shillings for a track over 20 feet of mud to give a ratepayer an entrance to his business premises. Is not this " glo. ious inconsistency."—l am, etc., ENO3 8. PEULfcR. MaiiUitwa.

For Infl.Kii/..i tike Winds' (irt.it Peppeimint Cure. Ncvu tails. 1,(1, t.-

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