EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 August 1922, Page 7

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l trust that you will grant me space in your valuable columns to make a few comments on the above unrest in the Egmont County. To the lay mind no doubt this agitation and merging mania may not be of unuch important, but to the thinking man much deliberation should be given the matter before he acts. Many of your readers may remember when there was but one county in Taranaki. This was in the early days. As settlement advanced the advantage of concentrated local control was felt, and from time to time new counties were created. Among them about twenty years ago was Egmont. I recall to mind an "exta” being published by the local Press. It was headed “A Red Letter Day,” and it truly was. I distinctly recall to mind the wretched state of the Main South Road, then under the control of the Hawera County. The road north of the Taungatara was not much better, and it was a forward and laudable move when the settlers from Warea to the vicinity of Otakeho banded themselves together and formed the Egmont County. If we study a map we will see that geographical!}it is ideally situated to be an intact county. Then why this unrest? Economically Egmont is in a very unfortunate position at present. The outlet for all south of Opunake ia either Hawera or Eltham. To those north of Opunake New Plymouth direct is the route.. Hence a natural cleavage. However, when all is said and done, even this to any sane reasoning man is no reason to rent a county asunder. Waiunate West is entirely dependent upon the arterial roads of the Hawera County for a natural outlet. They don’t ask to be merged into Hawera. They realise that they can locally administer their rates much better than from Hawera. They are a thrifty and progressive people, and understand the principle that because our produce goes to London that gives us no right to be joined to the London County Council. It is a paramount fact that all these bodies will see to it that no one victimises them. Therefore if a. special district can be better served by local control the fact that a neighboring body make, the travelling public pay a toll is no criterion to join them. The road is used as an outlet, and the toll is collected instead of a rate, but it naturally will be one or the other.

In Egmont the toll gate extortion is sometimes cited as the reason for severence. Then, again, the fact that one county has tar-sealed roads. Be sure it costs unoney to tar a road, and to whom so ever you may be attached you will naturally be the people to find it. Then again, it is urged that the district is neglected, and that the rates are squandered. Granted; still this is no argument for severance. You are a self-governing people, and it is for you to select representatives who should see these things do not occur.

Leaving these surmises, and getting down to bed-rock, the present position in Egmont is this: For years the councils have been composed of men who have not kept abreast of the ti<mes. They failed to recognise that with the advent of the motor that the system of road construction has had to be revolutionised. “The old metal road was good enough for my grandfather, so it is good enough for me.” The average rate-payer to-day, however, knows that the surface of a main road needs a sealing coat. Egmont has none, and our neighbors have. Even ex-chairmen of the county are restless. Is it strength or weakness on their part to desire to become the liege and appendage of their neighbor after having had the reins and failing to make good? If. on the other hand, the rate is considered oppressive surely a reasonable protest would be of weight. Personally, I objected to the heavy rate, and obtained the opinion of those I represent on the matter. I have now no hesitation in saying that as far as Oeo is concerned the rate will be less. If it is the nersonnel of the council which causes all this trouble then I suggest that the present council bodily resigns from office and not at present seek re-election. This would be no humiliation to me. It is a course which I would rather adopt than see shipwreck made of the labors of statesmen. Ratepayers, it is for you to earnestly consider the network of roads between Oaonui and Warea and the mountain. Think whether it will not be better to have your centre of control within a few miles, or have that centre thirty-fire miles away. It will be equivalent to the running of the Dardanelles from Downing Street, and you will find it about as satisfactory.—l am, etc., J. S. TOSLAND. Pihama, August 25.