THE Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1882.

Inangahua Times, Volume VII, Issue 1075, 17 April 1882, Page 2

THE Inangahua Times, PUBLISHED TRI-WEEKLY. MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1882.

Ncrperson, nor any public body Jikes parting with power, especially., when that means power to y; tviimA*. fo serve out enemies, and to rule the roast riglltrr^ally7 The Inangahua County Council and its friends form no exception to the rule, and the threatened Borough of Reefton is a hideous thing in their eyes. As most of our readers are aware j the petition in favor of establishing a Borough was sent round on Saturday last, and, we are glad to say, as testifying the good sense of a majority of the residents, was very numerously signed. As may be supposed, on finding this to be the case, the Council and its adherents were greatly perturbed; and forthwith instructed ffirf* folicitoir to prepare a dounter 'p'e'fcitipnj prayitig7 that tneir little gam© might, not be disturbed, that the petition, of the ratepayers anAoruabmgi»n7*frtne"^enefit i of distant places, and personal friends. Though hot so plainly expressed, that exactly is what the counter petitions. meant, and what the ratepayers are called on really to consider is whether thef will have their rates spent for the benefit of their" properties, or whether they desire it to be squandered kl distant parts of the County, in ai manner that does not benefit them one halfpennyworth. The opponents' of the Borough, of course, must raise .' their bogies to frighten weak or foolish people with, and are specially adroit in manufacturing them. Like all other ghosts and hobgoblins,' however, they vanish into thin air when confronted with actual fact, and the simple and compound, lies that are told only require examination to; prove their falsity. We propose now to address the rational portion ol our readers or some of them, and leave the issue to their good judgment. There tftte some persons to whom common sense is denied, and others who are interested in preserving things as they are, and on whom anything like argument ; would consequently be wasted. First of all we would ask what has the County Council done during its seven years of existence for Reefton or the other localities contained within the limits of the proposed Borough 1 Simply nothing, or next to nothing. On the other hand, it has carefully fleeced the residents of a shilling in the bound rate, which has' been spent outside for the benefit of favoured people and places. A clique has ruled, through it, for years on years, and has bejen kiept. in power by roll stuffing of pijjef. r $otffpia£enij» prepared to maintain t%s itpte of things, or would they prefer freedom and real selfgovernment, to its perpetuation. If thjey. likei ,tjie ..ruler of the County C^nnctt'thet wjll refuse to sign the petition in javor of the Borough ; if they would rather 'spend their rates, in the improvement of their properties, and in the construction of much needed public works in their midst, they will heariily, and to a man, sign in favour of a Municipality being established. Let us analyse some of the bogus objections wised. In the first place, it is said that ratepayers will be subjected tp vexatious restrictions and laws in a Borough that do not exist now* That'is simply moonshine, if i they return the right class of men to the Borough Council. It is not to by supposed foran instant that a countre Borough like this will need the stringent bye-laws that are necessary in great cities, and it is in the highest degree improbable that those ejected to office would be such fools as to try to impose them on the public In any case,.if the attempt to carry objectionable by-laws were made, the ratepayers hkye the power of veWng them, and in ord«rtogive them every power of doing t so, they must, a*fter passing the Council, be made public for twenty-one days, in order to giyg opportunity for objection before coming into force. Thus, therefore, that argument falls to the ground, ratepayers having ample powers at tfieir command to prevent offensive byelaws being fa-ought into operation. Again, i,t is said that additional taxes Would be levied. This is not ,only absolutely untrue, bttt the great probabshiljmg in the pound^tW be spent elsewhere, will be relieved of, at least, half of ihm> amount ft» a sixpenny rate will probably suffice to meet all local requireinentsmierefdre, ttstSad of being taxed' more, they would cast off half their present burden. In case of an an^le^ateY supply, or efficient drainage ; feeing parried out, and these, no doubt, would be some of' the works of the . new body— -a loan, payment of which can be extended over fifty years by the Act, would readilly be obtained, and though a special rate to meet interest and sinking fund would be needed, it would be very small and the pi-esßnt shilling rate would not only suffice for , the wants of the borough, but would amply meet the burden of the borrowed money. A borough will make all the streets, footoaths, drains, procure water suppy for household and •irejujrjjoscs, will improve the value D,f every section within its limits, will

abate stinking and dangerous nuisances, and how people, in possession of their senses, can object to it we cannot' think. Some hotelkeepers decry it because the Licensing Act sets the fee at £40 in a borough, and £25 for the sam§ beyond a borough's limits. It is very Questionable whether, borough or no borough, those carrying on business in Reefton will not have to pay £40 ; but even'supposiftg ' that tin extra £15 is put on will not, in a very large proportion,'the additional money spent in the borough, that is now spent far away, for pubJte works, fall into their coffers. If, say£2o,ooo, be borrowed for water ana drainage, will they not receive fifty times over the increased license fee. ? This is a paltry way to ! argue we know, but, as the- opponents of the borough are eminently seffish • and shortsighted, perhaps this fact may , influence them in their decision as to signing in favor of. a municipality. Reverting to water supply, we omitted- to say that, even if the County f Council were willing to borrow money for the purpose, they could not do so . without taking a poll of the ratepayers '■ in the county, and is it likely that the i outsiders, who would form a large maji ority, would consent to such an ex- '- pendituye that would in no way benefit •-, County Council failed to diranytning. I They have done nothing but spend • Reefton money elsewhere, and are the > people satisfied with that? They attend • to country interests alone, and have ■ scandalously neglected this town and ■ suburbs. To sum up all, if a borough ■ be created the money raised within its > limits will be spent within them, the > power of local self-government will be ; given, money for absoluteley necessary 5 public works can be obtained, era- , ployment to working men will be given i all the year round, the health of the > inhabitants will be protected, a water ;' supply and efficient drainage will be - obtained, streets and footpaths be made > throughout the municipal boundaries, I the iron rule of the County Council 3 be shaken off, rates will 'certainly not i be increased, but probably very largely 5 reduced, and in every way the prosf perity of the municipality will, in all J material points be vastly promoted. ) Under these circumstances there should i be no hesitation or doubt'Aa to signing i en masse and the lies told by the perr sons interested, and who favor the - County County and oppose the borough . will not, we feel fully assured, be allowi ed to influence those to whom a muniJ cipality will be so great a boon.