COUNTY ELECTION

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 4362, 19 January 1909, Page 3

COUNTY ELECTION

(To the Editor.) Sir,—On the 20th nominations will close for the County Election and I think it just as well that ratepayers should know what has been done since last election. The County at that time was out of debt. The Hoad Board cost them about £I,OOO, against which they had the rates, and then they had the flood, against which they had £BOO or £9OO from the Government. And what is the position now ? An overdraft of £B,OOO. Burely a record for three years, and I suppose the same -wise Councillors wiU come along and ask us to vote for them agai». The question is, “ Where has the money gone ?” As far as I can see there has been no work done of any magnitude. Theie was that uice little job at Morrinsville to oblige one Councillor, whish cost close on £SOO, about which we have heard so much. And then I suppose the Chairman with salary and travelling expenses will reach over £3OO, and I suppose the Councillors will have had say £2OO between them, but what of the balance ? Gone in dribs and drabs, at the rate of over £2,000 per year, and the main roads at this present time as rough a 3 I have ever known them, and this is the record of our present Council. I think, MiEditor, they should all take a back seat and give some new men a show. Then there is the authorised loans of £7,000

added to the overdraft will make £15,000,

which will make a nice little bill of interest, £750 a year. There is no hope for improvement by the return of such Councillors There seems to be no care or thought, but simply spend, spend, spend Then we have Mr T. Hanna telling us if returned he would by some means or {other work an “ oracle ” reduce the rates, reduce the Seat overdraft, and improve the roads. ow ? By the simple process of borrowing more money. I think we will want a large pinck of salt, lAr Hanna to make your medicine go down.—l am, etc., H. O. Cooper.

(To the Editor)

Sir, —I notice in your Saturday’s issue of The News that Mr Thos, Hanna, of Waiata has consented to become a candidate for the Manawaru Riding of the Piako County Council at the fortcoming election, and in consenting to allow himself to become a candidate, I may say that we have the chance o? being represented by a very energetic and progressive Councillor. Mr Hanna has briefly laid down! bis ideas on various matters that should be seriously considered by

every right thinking ratepayer of the Hiding, as I consider there is plenty of room for reform in the direction advocated by him. If the system of separate a roads accounts were introduced, I am perfectly sure that there would be a more just and equitable allocation of the county funds than what at present obtains. We are told that the separate 1 riding accounts are not legal, so why go 5 on in this illegal form of eounty ad- ' ministration? Moreover when, as far as 1 I can see, it has proved a distinct 1 failura. One thing is quite certain, the 1 riding account system is one that can be 1 much abused, for the money goes and ’ there is no check on the expenditure. But I do not say this state of affairs would obtain in the new Council, as each member will be representing his ewn riding, and any motion that may be tabled will not be governed by outside issues. All the same I think that if the separate roads accounts are inaugurated the County as a whole would be more efficiently managed in every department. With reference to the “ Advances to Local Bodies’ Act ” I have no hesitation in stating tha£ I am sorry to say that this is a measure that has so far done no good to this County, simply for the reason that it has seldom been taken advantage of, and there is no mistake that the Councils of the past have sadly neglected the ratepayer’s interest in this respect. Other Counties have been advancing with the times, and have gone in extensively for borrowing to carry out their respective works, while this County has carried on by the costly method of working on an overdraft which means paying five or six per cent., and then the works carried out are not in a permanent form. There is no mistake that the present Council has in no way retarded the progress of the district, for they have carried out some good works on the side roads, which have cost more than they should have on account of the numerous pits and drains that have had to be filled up before the road foundations conld be laid in anything like a permanent state, but the system of financing the works has been decidedly bad. For my part I would like to see Mr Hanna returned as our member, for I think that he would be an acquisition to the Council, and am sure he will render a good account of himself. Mr Hanna, as a member of the Hungahunga Drainage Board, has proved to be a mau of sterling worth, and his experience as chairman to that body should serve him in good stead if elected to the Council. So ratepayers, if you want to be well represented, I must ask you to cast your votes in favour of Mr Hanna. Thanking you, Mr Editor, for trespassing on so much of your valuable space. —I am, etc., BATErAYEH.