The Wairoa Bell, AND Hobson County Gazette. FRIDAY, MARCH 17th.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 189, 17 March 1893, Page 4

The Wairoa Bell, AND Hobson County Gazette. FRIDAY, MARCH 17th.

Some time ago we commended Cr. Berridge for the determined stand he took in reference to the County Ridings’ Bal-

ances Accounts, for we were one with him in the belief that such were not being dealt ■with in accordance with the Counties Act. The representatives of those ridings which had been fortunately placed in credit by the manner of keeping the accounts were ever suspicious of the expenditure of monies, even on the main roads of other ridings, and continually reminded the representatives of those ridings of the large debit balances shown against them. It was at such times as these that feeling in the Council ran high and unjdeasant episodes occurred ; for those representing the indebted ridings felt that their ridings were unjustly charged and those representing the more foi tunate ones were fearful that their riding 3 were to be deprived of their credits. It will thus be seen that the question of the Ridings’ balances was a very touchy one in the Council.

Cr., Berridge desirous of getring the correct solution of the question, procured, at his own expense, a legal opinion on the matter, and by it he was confirmed in his opinion that the accounts bad not been kept as directed by the Counties Act. Backed by the law he approached the Council with the object of having the accounts put into legal form. He was met by determined opposition in the Council and in the columns of our contemporary, where such terms as “ idiotic ” and “ robbery ” were hurled at him. The Council, however, referred the matter to their solicitor, and that gentleman in very clear and concise language has explained the intention and terms of the Counties Act to be just what Cr. Berridge contended they were. The thanks of the ratepayers are due to Cr. Berridge for having pushed the matter thus far, but the matter should not be allowed to rest where it is. In the past the Council has erred through ignorance in the manner of the distribution of its funds amongst the ridings ; but now they can no longer plead ignorance for they have the interpretation of the law plainly before them. The Council is about entering upon a new financial year and we hope that Cr. Berridge will at least insist upon the future funds of the County being properly dealt with according to the Act. Let the credit and debit balances of the various ridings as they now stand be written, off' for the credits are really of little or no use to the ridings that have them. What has really governed the expenditure of County funds in the past has been tbe general good of the County, and this is evidently the intention of tbe Act else why should the Councillors of one riding be given a voice in dealing with the funds of another riding. And we firmly believe that in the future the funds of the County will be spent for the good of the County as a whole and will not be otherwise spent because of certain debit and credit balances of accounts that have not been kept within the meaning of the Act, Any Councillor who would sacrifice the good of the whole County for the spending of a few pounds solely within the bounds of his own riding is not worthy of his position. Fuch a man should be more adapted for a seat on a Road Board and even then would probably be found spending the money at his own door. We publish this week a County balance sheet but no mention is there made of Ridings’ accounts, so that it is plain that the present Ridings balances have no cer - tain foundation. The plan of finance laid down in the Counties Act is systematic and sensible and should, we think, be strictly followed. There should first of all be a general County fund into which all monies should be paid ; the Council’s duty is then to determine the amount to be used in the construction and maintenance of the main and county roads and the balance, if any, should then be divided amongst tbe ridingß in proportion to the rates received from them. From the County fund would be met the expenses of all county work and county services, and from tbe different Ridings’ funds the several smaller works of importance only to the separate ridings. The necessity for apportioning law costs, stonecrusher expenses, salaries and numerous other matters would be greatly reduced as they would mainly be chargeable to the general County Fund. The carrying out of such a plan would prevent the constant draining of the County fund for purely Riding matters, as these latter would have to be borne by the Ridings’ Accounts ; and the result would be the speedier formation of our main roads ia tbe outskirts ol the County. The rate-

payers of a riding would then know definitely what sum was available for their separate need and if such were not enough they would know also that their only course would be either to allow certain works to stand over or appeal to their own pockets by the striking of a separate rate for their own use. Looked at in every way the system laid down by the Counties Act is vastly superior to the one now followed by the Hobson County Council and we trust Councillor Berridge will keep the matter moving till the proper method ia adopted.