COUNTY AMALGAMATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 854, 24 August 1881, Page 2

COUNTY AMALGAMATION.

To the Editor of the Wairabapa Daily.

Sir,— Letters.haye recently appeared in your columns from Messrs 0. Phillips R, S. Hawkins, and H. E. Bunny advocating the union of the counties' East and West Wiararapa. The first of the above gentleman has referred to me as haying "Thrown down the gage" in the discussion; but this a mistake, for it in no way originated with me, And this is not his only inaccuracy, Mrflawkins says he "purposely refrains from details "-r-but everything depends upon details. To decide upon amalgamation first, and settle details.afterward* would bo to put the cart before fhe horse.

No new argument is offered in the above letters, but each gives expression to sentiment, Sentiment is a beautiful thioi; in the right place, but in politics, it is only another word foa "lnoonshine "

Instead of deprecating selfishness an 4 mistrust, (necessary ingredients in all politics,) amongst settlers, the advocates for a change should be able to hold out something more to the people of the County East than that they would have wouders done for them—with their own money. Such advocates, moreover; must not wonder if inquisitive people ask how tho proposed change wojld affect thbm individually. On private as well as public grounds, Messrs Hawkins and Bunny, who, as residents in the fjoqnk East, have deolarod in favor of union, do not come out in favor of this test, •,''

It has been remarked thill their notions are plain enough:—that their 'properties being on the Western boundary of County East, internal communication is every thing with them and hence their sympathy with County Weßt, and that their opinions would have h|6re weight if they lived at or nearer the s'ea'pqastj' :t Two things sep'm't" b^'generally ac|; mitted. 1. That neither Oburity ■ haij anything like funds enough for requisite works, even'with greatly increased'tax-' ation. 2. That, if the two Counties were united, those'parts most'remote from the place of the meeting of the Council would suffer fr'om the much' greater difficulty ilnd expense oritW4 upon their representatives'in attending Ihe meetings, 'as coihpared' with'those living'hearer the place/ of meeting, attd whose views't!)uat therefore pWp.qn.d.a.ra.te/, This diffioulty-ia now felt in Qounty E]aa.| alone, it would be aggravated by th*9 proposed uiilon It might to some extent be. obviated by increasing 'the number of Highway Districts; and the efficiency of the Highway Boards, and so' doing aw»y with t'be necessity of freqeunt m'eeVinfeUf tftPWn*i|. J ''' f l ' l" 1|£ Mr 'Buiiny proposes 1 '{ marriage'! ba< twean the two Comities, Ido not know which he considers the lady, and which the gentleman; but the friends of both parties had better be careful that they do noji bring about an ilkistjorted mafcrj to reiiultnvendjes! political Qaudje ißotutes, and perhaps the demand lor 'a divorce on the ground of incompatibility, ithfj preseqt statj of tljiqgs Vqqfc wholly sat,' isfactory, probably qq sphere: caq bji'j hufno necessity fqr a cqaqge, baa yet been shown. If the various road districts could be guaranteed their fair share of the revenue, and at all. events the local expenditure of all rates, the question pujd. wea,r q different asnioj but wtthoqt sonje such guarantee, the invitation to County East'tq \\ rather too suggestive of' aq instructive little ditty which I think begins. Hi-Will you walk into my parlour said the snidW to the fly," •,.;;, ,: ;. : ; Yours &o. J. Valentine Smith.