FORMING A COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 7, 27 May 1914, Page 3

FORMING A COUNTY.

OF THE MOA ROAD DISTRICT. SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD. A proposal is on foot for the formation of the Moa road district, at present administered by the Moa Road Board, into a county, taking over the riding lia-bilitks of certain portions l of the Taranaki county. In the office of the Board at Inglewood on Saturday, a special meeting of the Board was held to consider the question. Mr. Capper introduced the matter (which arose out of his own notice of motion) in a forcible speech. He stated that tJhe incorporation of certain portions of the Taranaki county would not put any additional loan on the ratepayers of the proposed new county, as the riding was already charged wit'h its shave of the cost of those works, and they would be in a better position when governing their own finances than when under two authorities. He was convinced tliat a very suitable and workable area could be arranged. They would, on account of the trend of traffic, have to take in a small portion of the Clifton county. Being a county would give them a bettor states, and very muA larger financing powers. The enlarged status would enable them to have some sort of supervision over their surfacemen. He had noticed that at present there was no supervision at all and no one to direct the surfacemen; they went where they liked; and when they liked, and were responsible to no one. In addition to the enhancement of land values due to the improvement in the roads, the town would itself gain in status as the county town. It had only been through the lack of spirited leading men that the town hod not, as its founders had anticipated, become one of the foremost towns in the province, and there was still time to improve matters. No one could finfl fault witti the past work of the Boards but it was time they looked ahead, and tried to make more of the future. In seconding the motion, Mr. Hopson advocated a new county as against a merger with the present county. Being a countv, with sole power to strike rates, they would have more control over their own roads. Mr. Smith supported the motion,.but sounded a notp of warning in connec tion with the intention of the Stratford County Council to erect toll-gaes. Mr. Trimble was also in favor of the idea, but thought it was rather late in the day for the requisite special Bill to be passed through this session of Parliament. He feared, also, strenuous opposition bv the Taranaki Comity Council, and stressed the importance of being assured of the ratepayers' support. After further lengthy discussion, in which the i|i!estion of boundaries was briell.V' touched on. Mr. Cupper's motion was carried unanimously. It was also decided- that the whole Board be a committee to interview ratepayers in their respective neighborhoods, and ascertain thc : r views on the question and report at the next meeting of ■lhi' b'M'il; iMvl Ui-it the <|iie4ion of the leeab formalities :md requirements he left entirely in the hnnd9 of the chairman, wit'h a strong recommendation to confer with Mr. VV. G. Maloue, of Stratford.