ROAD BOARD ELECTIONS.

Westport Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1168, 17 April 1874, Page 4

ROAD BOARD ELECTIONS.

[WESTPOttT EYESIITG STAR.] Is filling up vacancies in tho several Eoad Boards, caused by the annual retirement in rotation of one-half of tho members, tho public have taken but little interest. In fact the electors have, with few exceptions, shown an indifference which perhaps may be accounted for by the fact that the existence of Boards having local power and authority has not yet been brought forcibly under public notice. The " force " necessary to arouse interest is a demand for payment of rates, and so soon as the first levy is made, then of a certainty may be expected the sudden starting into active agitation of a host of conflicting interests. The very novelty of being called on to pay rates will beget attention to the action of the Boards, and it may be safely predicted that whenever another election ensues, whether for the filling up of a casual vacancy or for general election, all those who have votes will record them. The powers already vested in, and the duties imposed on, local Boards will cause them to supersedo tho Provincial Government in the regulation and control of many local matters, and much will depend on the exercise of such powers during the current year of office, of necessity a term of experimentalizing, a probationary period, giving test whether local Boards, as at present constituted, can futil the duties wherewith they are entrusted.