THE ALFREDTON RIDING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXX, Issue 8476, 1 July 1907, Page 5

THE ALFREDTON RIDING.

PROPOSED ANNEXATION BY EKETAHUNA COUNTY. MR WINGATE ASKS FOR CAREFUL CONSIDERATION. (To the Editor.) Sir.—Not being able to attend the meeting on the 20th ult., re Alfredton riding of the Masterton County being annexed to the Eketahuna County, I desire, through your paper, to give my views about this movement to the ratepayers, if you will permit me. I have been connected with the district for forty years, and have some knowledge of its requirements, having represented the riding in the Masterton Council for some time. It may be conceded, without question, that if the proposed change will result beneficially to the district, if it will, give the ratepayers (as has been claimed) better roads at a less cost than at present, if their affairs will be generally better and more cheaply managed, there can be no hesitation in saying that it should be brought about as speedily as possible. I desire to impress on each individual ratepayer to satisfy himself whether the change can be answered in the affirmative to' the above question. There are many responsibilities with regard to matters outside the work of road maintenance from which the Alfredton district cannot be relieved by the proposed change—such as hospital and charitable aid contributions, responsibilities under the Public Health Act, proportionate cost of periodical valuations, besides other expenses of a similar nature. Of whatever County Alfredton forms' an integral part, it will have its share of these expenses to provide. I much doubt whether these matters could be attended to as efficiently and cheapty as by the Masterton County staff. The ratepayers.- moreover, have been* led to suppose that the share they have for some years been called upon to bear of the actual expenses of management-that is, staff salaries —has been unduly large, and that it will be materially reduced by the meditated change. A comparison was made by Mr Wise, (as published in the Wairarapa Daily Times of the j 22nd ult.) between the cost of management of the Masterton and Eketahuna Counties. These figures must be received with great caution; without the details before us it is impossible to say how these costs (£1,246 Is 4d and £4lfi t l2s Bd, respectively) are made up. Assuming that the Clerk of the Eketahuna Council, respectively, receive £175 and £156, total £3?.1, it will be found that this amount bears a proportion of 22.35 per cent, on the general rate of that County, whilst the salaries of .Engineer. Clerk and Assistant of the Masterton County were £GBO, the general and separate rate to £6,876: the percentage in this case is 9.88. That is further matter for ratepayers to ponder over before giving their assent to the proposed severance. The actual salaries which the Alfredton riding has had to provide is under £IOO, and it seems to me to be a grave question whether there is any possibility of reducing or doing the work required at that price. I think the ratepayers should weigh these and many other matters very seriously before they make a change. The greatest difficulties are the recent formation of roads being so liable to slips, the want of metal and the disastrous floods —difficulties no change] of jurisdiction can overcome. I am much concerned for the well-being of the district, and do hope the ratepayers will come to a right decision re this matter.—l am, etc., , JOHN WINGATE.