COUNTY OF EGMONT.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 September 1922, Page 7

COUNTY OF EGMONT.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—At the last meeting of the council I noticed the chairman stated that the bad state of roads in the northern riding was due to the neglect of the late northern members. I was surprised to see such a statement from the chairman. If he had stated the reason was due to the southern members always voting against anything that was required by the members, he would have been near the truth. The members from the northern end of the county were appointed a committee to go into and report on the requirements of their riding for 1922. This we did, and it was agreed by the council that tenders be called for the metal we recommended, after the council meeting. The councillors appointed to attend to the advertising cut our estimate down by 5 per cent., and when asked the reason for making the alteration, the chairman told us that was all he was going to allow the northern riding, as the requirements of the southern end were greater than he anticipated. It seems the requirements of the southern members are still great, as they have now decided to strike a rate of 2%d in the £ over Rahotu riding and 2%d in rhe £ over Oeo riding. Some few weeks ago the council advertised that the rate would be 2%d in the £ over Rahotu, Opua, and Oeo ridings. Now ■ they have decided that Oeo shall be reduced I to 2%d in the £, with the result that all | advertising must be done over again and paid I for. I wonder if the wise men from the north will rise up at the next meeting of the council and ask that justice be done to the ratepayers in the Rahotu riding by reducing their rate to l%d in the £ ? That is what it should be, and when they tell the chairman that Oeo’s share of the overdraft at March 31. 1921, was £4872 4s 7d, with a valuation of £506,141, and that Rahotu’s share of the overdraft was £4019 10s lOd, with a valuation of £774,264, he will no doubt do the correct thing and vote to have Rahotu riding rated at l%d In the £. I trust members from the northern riding will ask -that justice be given their ward. If they cannot get any money spent on their roads, perhaps they will get j southern members to vote for a square deal over the rate. I suggest that ’the chairman of the council be asked who is going tp pay the interest on antecedent liability. Will it be so apportioned that Oeo pays interest on their share, and also their just share of the redemption, or will the members from the south allow Rahotu riding to pay as they are doing at present, their own share and a good portion of Oeo’s? I want ratepayers to understand that every £ Oeo gets over its share reduces the amount that can be spent in othet ridings. The present system of allowing one riding to get more than its share of the money is most unjust.—l am, etc., WALTER C. GREEN. Rahotu, September 25.