PROPOSED INGLEWOOD COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 May 1919, Page 6

PROPOSED INGLEWOOD COUNTY.

THE COMMISSION'S REPORT. The commission set np by the Govern-'"! ment to take evidence in respect of the proposed Inglewood County -(Messrs 0. , 11. BullariVand B. S. Wilson) state, inter alia:— j One of the witnesses before the commission- stated that in a small county. I as evidenced by instances in the Moa Road District, self help in the shape of free labor by settlers- would prevail more, than in a larger one. The commissionunderstands that settlers in the Moa. •Road district have given a large amouu-t of frfec labor. This is not confined to; ithe Moa district alone, although it may be more in, evidence there.

Some of the other reasons given were scarcely to the point and others of only minor importance; for instance, the fact., that the Taranaki County Office was.-i close to the Laads and Deeds Offices in New Plymouth. The commission it 1 of the opinion that increasing the numberof counties would end the demand for; ftoll gates, but, a« the installation of* 'these is subject to the eonseat of thei ■Government, it is a matter that caa- be 'kept under control. Ay regards economy, .or apparent economy of managements ■expenses percentage of revenue, the commission thinks that this general fy witt he, ■and in this: instance is in favor of tie larger local body. In the ease ■of efficiency in, and closer supervision -.over road waste,-wei tMnk that the- smaller body, as long as it is not too small, [has the advantage in dfefaiets Hce .those round Mount Egmont, where very few of the tactions in the- Comities Act, iheyond road construction, ajid maintenance, are exercised by counties. The dual contort by road board and county ts certainly undesirable, and, the Moa "Road Board, is the last one ia the district round Mount Egmont. In the opinion of the- commission, there are two solutions—one the merging of the Moa. Road' Board into the Taranaki County, and the other the constitution !of the proposed Inglewood County. As to this, the opinioa of one of the present county representatives.' of the Moa Riding was against the formation of the new county, and in another case, that of Mr. Brown, formerly, for years, chairman of Ithe Taranaki Council, was also against the proposed new county on account of the smallness of area, but in favor of it if a greater area were taken in. The commission is not clear as to whether

it is required to express an opinion on the second paragraph of the order of reference in regard to territory 111 another county, but. think that part of the Ngatima.ru Riding of the Clifton County should be included in the new Inglewood County. If desired, we could indicate more closely. Taking into consideration the surrounding circumstances, including tuch things as the convenience of, and the wishes of the majority of ratepayers, and the convenience of Inglewood as a centre for road plant in the proposed new county, the commission is of the opinion, in respect of the iirst part of the order of reference, that, for the purposes of local government under the Counties Act. 190S, the said area, should 'oe constituted a separate county under the said Counties Act. In respect to the second jpart of the order of reference, we think that, as for land;: at present within the TaTanaki County and the lands proposed to be handed over from the Stratford County, the boundaries are suitable. The proposed county would have about 105 miles of road.

With regard to the subsidy, we are of opinion that, if it is considered advisable to constitute the new county, it should receive the same proportionate subsidy as the Taranaki and Stratford Counties.