The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1880. REDUCTION OF THE COUNTY STAFF.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2217, 11 February 1886, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 1880. REDUCTION OF THE COUNTY STAFF.

Tpß County staff is about to be rodu : oed uj JVairarapa North, and while the necessity of a raduction is apparent, it is to be regretted that such a neccessity has arisen. It is a .w.o;rk of time to create an efficient staff, and when pn.e has become, as in the present instance, really effective, its disintegration is a bad sign. The reduction of the staff points plainly to the fact that less, road .construction is likely to be carried on in the future than in the past. Many causes combine ,fco make it necestary now to re-arrange the County administration. The repeal .of the Roads and Bridges Construction Act: has been a blow to the district, and the subdivision of the County into petty Road Boards is not,calcu!ated to | promote the construction of roads of a county character. Mr Hawkins' own little Road Board is an example of thJB. It is perhaps equal to a little road patching, to the extent of two or three pouuds per week, but beyond this, it cannot very well go. Still in its way it is unique, Its Chairman cannot fallout with his clerk or Overseer, because all oSces are combined in one illustrious personage, Nor can the Board differ with its ebjtf without sacrificing its entire staff, Perfect harmony, however, must reign in the region 'governed' by the Upper Taueiu Road Board, and equally perfect isolation, It is, however, to be deplored tha.t the chances of maintaining an efficient eonnty staff should be lessened by each small ception of the district separating itself from its neighbors and running alone, instead of combining together for mutual aid and assistance, To secure cheap and good wads in this district it is necessary to have S.O services of competent engineers, skilled oyersners, and at least a few experienced roadmen. Small Roard Boards cannot possibly an equipment of this sort, and consequently, though their annual bill for salaries nip.y be little or nothing, the inferior and limited character of the work they turn out, make fbejr .under-, takings in reality inoce costly than the operation of larger bodies. ' For ,many years past in Wairarapa North tfrere has been an excellent and reliahjfc country staff, but we fear tha its days are numbered. Changs 8 have of late been numerous, and bu* few of them'have been in a righ 1 direction. The time,will no doub D come foheh there will be a r&ctio'nV

when settlers throughout the district will feel the wnut of a strong central body, which can cope with the requirements of the district. The reaction, however, has not as yet set in, and till it does the work of disintegration must proceed. The County staff, to meet the times, must be but down, and weak road boards increase and multiply. There are foes without to the County system, but there are, perhaps, worse foes within.