CORRESPONDENCE. WAITARA WEST ROAD BOARD.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 August 1917, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

WAITARA WEST ROAD BOARD.

(To tlie Editor.) Sir,—Will you kindly allow roe space to heartily thank your Lcpperton correspondent for giving us a short resume of what took place at the last meeting of the above board? Also, I wonid like to Kiy that the best thanks of the ratepayer? on the Upper Wortlcy Road are due to Mr. Biggins for his strong efforts in the direction of getting something like justice done to those unfortunate settlers -who have no friends on the board, to see that they get a fair deal from those ease-loving gentlemen who pool the rates to save themselves and their clerk the trouble of keeping the accounts of the different roads in such a way that the ratepayers would know jn?t how they stand in the matter of expenditure and J.iir play. The only justification for pooling the rate 3 is to enable a local body to apply the surplus of rates accruing from properties near to and fronting the main roads, to assist more remote and outlying settlers to iea':h civilisation. But the chairman of the board seems to cousider that the "saving of trouble to the board ar.J the clerk" is justification enough. Such a remark, for pure foolishness, could hardly be exceeded. But this board not only ignores the principle which warrants the pooling of the rates for general expenditure, but actually turns the principle upside down and makes it act against its own justification. -Tust imagine a Bet of men collecting rates in the name of (he law from outlying settlements and spending them in and around the little forlorn township of Lepperton, utterly ignoring the rights and the pressing needs of those farther off. who have only an apology in Hie shape of a mud track for a road. For five soliil years there has been no sensible expenditure on tile Upper Wortlcy Road. Wo who are residents on this road have been systematically neglected. We have stood this kind of treatment too long, and it is high time that we had some proper understanding. The board owes the Upper Wortlcy Road the nice little sum of one hundred pounds sterling. We are orepared to accept that sum as s. clearance of what is due to us; and 'We settlers here arc quite prepared to have our properties merged in the Moa Road District. If these propositions are agreed to, it will bo all in the direction of "saving trouble to the board and the clerk'' at Lcpperton. The agreement between the Waitara West 'Road Hoard and the Moa Road Board respecting the upkeep of Davis Road has been lying for five or six years in a lawyer's office in an unfinished state, and cannot now be executed without the consent of the partie? concerned. Moreover, it is extremely doubtful if the understanding arrived nt \vi« at all equitable. My opinion is that it was very far from being equitable The ratification of that agreement raust have the sanction of those 'whose rates are affected by the agreement. I hope for an amicable settlement; otherwise this matter will have to be brought before the Magistrate, sitting as a court of equity. We are absolutely full up of being deprived of our rights, and will not sulmiit to it any longer. This letter ougl t to show the justness of Mr. Diggins' contentions.—l am, etc., J. O. TAYLOR. August 13, 1917.

CONSCRIPTION OF LADS.

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Arc the Second Division reservists of New Plymouth going to allow themselves to bo branded as men afraid to in.ee their duty'; If not, why are they not protesting against the measure proposed by the Defence Minister to lower the military ago of conscripts to Ift years: They cannot want to see these schoolboys taken to the trendies in their places. Why does not the Mayor convene a meeting of citizens, men and women, to take steps to show our detestation of such shuffling measures? Hoping that all concerned will arise at once to action, especially the mothers who will be called upon to suffer further bereavements. —I am, etc., ACTION. [Action in tins direction has already been taken by the executive of the Tarauaki branches, as well as by the executive of the Federated Leagues of New Zealand.—Ed.]