THE COUNTY QUESTION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1462, 21 August 1883, Page 2

THE COUNTY QUESTION.

(ToVtlie Editor.) '-,, :^ , Sir—l see by ybiii* report of a meet-' ingheldon the evenjiig! of the 15th instant;-that a resolution was .carried in favor of the Counties.; : corned, and a subsequent resolution that a pettiion .be' prepared and signed to give .effe'eV'td'the foregoing. 'Nowjl trust that ratepayers will pause before they commit theraselveS;to signing such a petitiorif. 1 71 yirquldiask. them to consider what they are going to put in the place. o£ the, County if they do away; with it. The Masterton and Castlepoint Highway Boards may certainly, for a tiiga carry, wt the functions of county government, but- what will the-rate-payers save by.lKI. I say r nothing I If 'it- is; nec&ary Jjo, ( ipadsjjf .the County does not doty the Highway Boards .will• Such'being the I case, what;iß ,there..to;be gained ? ■■ The i -whole thing hinges upon engineer's arid Highway Board' versus County warfare.'. Without doubt our expenses in the direction. of, Engineers aresimply ptepostoro'usand.snduld be nipped in the bud. Where ut the necessity of the Masterton Highway.Board paying an engineer wben ; .the Cou'nty engineer V available all the work? Why* ,'nbl have ; .made arrangements with' the County in a similar manner »b the'Cfts.tlopoipt;Boafd} i ;' The foot-is. thisy 1 the' 'Masterton. Highway Board should 'have .dpue,a>ay, ; with- their' engineering staff aud .collected,a very much lighter rate than they have done, .and put'theihMvifs upon a,level vith ■other Highway Boards, 1 whose wardens can, and dp, with the,; assistance of an "overseer,'..attend'''t'o u all"tho work' in hand. This is. the province of -Highway Boards—not .to. ape County .Councils. There is a great lack of this duty in •the Masterton Board, and are we to hope for better things if they ,get County.management Into' ttiejthalids'i Isajr, no.-j There plre jof ; their districtnow^whewtneßettlershave to mend their, own waysland ..by-ways without any. helpjrom, them» or any enquiries from their.". Wardens- 1 if 'ttiey require any ;i help;;. J will .ask :• those wbio iriterid r io sigii ||e. jpfbfcitiQiL.tb -look a-liead and see if the day is hot very near, when the Master.tonfKoad Board, and the sootierthe'lieifeji;. - Let settlers ■ look to it ; |fid-Bpl|fnp 'as loon■ as poSßJbl^arid : sp\'ild :l their -'ownjrates, intheir,own'rsway,:and not* allow their r&tes to be frittered jw'ay bywha't. is at. Vresent. notljing.better-than, a duplicatesystem, pi CountygoverahientStick: to. the ,let;. thorn manage, their constructionl of new roads —both .district.Ad-main—and' let HigWay;:Boaydj;lpok;i after small requirements; i'm settlers. may see to it next -year -(this County;-; rates will, have to be paid under any,circumstances), and britigjffisßjire,^bes( upbi'tte Coiinty%tito strike ihigHer rate than is actually/necessary for m&iaroad maintenance,,anctstick to the strict letter of the la* as.fer as special concerned. : ; v 'I ;■ I Qm IK F/.V08.08 CfIUOT QoYBBtfWKST.