RETRENCHMENT.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1657, 8 November 1887, Page 3

RETRENCHMENT.

tO tHB EDITOR. Sib,—With your permission I would like to make a few remarks, as we are undergoing a severe time of depression, and the cry is retrenchment. It would bo advisable to do it at our own door with regard to our local bodies. In this small district wo have too many, between one Eoad Board and two 'Town Boards, independent of the County Council. Would it not be advisable to throw the Town Boards into a Borough Council? It would be far more preferable in many respects. Instead of two clerks and overseers wo would only need one, one office, one auditing of books, one collection of rates, half the advertising, and many other things might be saved; then we would have one good governing body. Bo far as the Eoad Board is cencerned, we could not do without it, as their work lies in the country districts, but I fail to see the benefit of the County Council and Eoad Board too. Either one or the other should be done away with. It is too many of these petty Boards that swallow up the rates. Now, with regard to charitable and hospitable aid, it requires looking into. If lam rightly informed something like half our rates go in this direction. Who gets it ? Is it the officials or is it the poor and needy ? I am afraid it is the former named. Why should not the governing body have the distribution of the money ? It is they who have to raise the rates, and by all means they should spend it, and every penny that is spent should be posted up in a public place with the names of those who are.receiving aid. It would be no disgrace, as poverty is no crime If they are ashamed in have that done they are not in need. These are broad questions which want looking into. Hoping that L have not trespassed ’ on your valuable space too far, 1 am, etc., Ratepayer. Temuka, Nov. 5th,,1887.