THE BRIDGE QUESTION.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1581, 14 May 1887, Page 2

THE BRIDGE QUESTION.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—According to your report of the meeting of ratepayers of the Geraldine district last week, tbe Chairman's report referred to what the Road Board appears to look upon as the bridge nuisance. This source of annoyance, the Chairman Btated, proceeds mostly from people who wish to send their children to certain schools, and as Government provides free education ho appears to think that those who cannot afford to drive their children to school ought to be content with knawirg that there is a free school at the other side of a river which the children have no means of crossing. If members of Road Boards and their overseers hod no better means of crossing rivers than fording them on foot, I don't think they would be so scrupulous about the cost of building and maintaining bridges. It certainly is true that large propertyholders are directly the largest ratepayers, but it is equally true that there is no source of wealth but labor, and that rich idlers luxuriate on what rightfully belongs to poor workers, who are indirectly the only ratepayers. I waive the quantum of justice, but with our increasing knowledge of this truth it is impolitic to refuse to make roads, etc., sb far as possible, safe and comfortable to pedestrians, who cannot afford tbe luxury ol riding or driving. At anyrate we must have provisions made tor our children's getting to school. As you pointed out a few days ago, there are £50,000 of public money annually devoted to the secondary education of the children of the rich. We cannot allow our primary schools to be also devoted to the sole benefit of those who can afford to keep a buggy. I am, etc., Wm. L. LUjncae. Kakahu Bush. May 9, 18*7.