COUNTY COUNCIL AFFAIRS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 77, 21 March 1914, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCIL AFFAIRS.

AN EAST RIDING VIEW.

[To Tuf- Editor Stratfokb Post.}

Sir,—-Headers of your article "A County Grisis,ss in last Thursday's "Stratford Post" would naturally infer'that the East Biding was mainly responsible for the deplorable state of the County's financial position. In justice to the East Biding employees; and to Mr Were and myself, I "wish to put the East and North Riding balances, covering the last three financial years, before you, as that was about the date the East Riding was divided into three areas:—

March 31st, 1910—North Riding: Dr. £582; East Riding, Dr. £3076. March 31st, 1913.—North Biding: Dr. £3198; East Riding, Dr. £1498. During that period the East Riding paid their share of the cost of

a lot of County machinery, etc., equally with the X,orth, while, in addition to that, the East Riding bought 8 acres of land, and built two cottages at a total approximate cost of £7OO, on which f.hey receive good interest. The agures for, this year are not yet avaiU able, but if the half-yearly balance of September is any criterion, it is a safe wager that in proportion to its valuation the East Riding will bo the second strongest financially in the County! Comment on the above figures is needless, but a good many ratepayers will no doubt wonder why all the sweeping is. being done in the East Riding only. Ido not intend, to touch on your other remarks at present, as it is possible the whole position may be put before the ratepayers, but feel cpu* cerftf* the article would have been very differently written if you fully understood the state of affairs.—l am, etc.,

EDWARD WALTER

[As in the matter of his resignation Mr Walter has been too hasty in liis conclusions. No reasonable person "would naturally infer" what tie alleges from our article, and for onca his usually good judgment is at fault. We would suggest that our correspondent read the article again. -Ed. "Stratford Post."]