Evening star., 1932-11-24
A RAzON, La Paz-We are in

monotonOus but We must not de-
IL sist from our appeals for more
and better roads in our country
of Bolivia. Roads-good roads-are our
most vital necessity. The man, whether
an official or private citizen, who gives
us roads gives us bread and gives us
life! But we cannot have roads until
some concerted and energetic action Is
made to provide them.
Very patriotically we joined road
building crew not long ago to help
build a highway in Potosi department.
Our assistants were mostly Indians.
herded to the scene by countless local
alcaldes (mayorS), corregidores (mag-
istrates) and other authorities. None
of them brought the necessary imple--
merts, however, and when we managed
to secure enough from the nearest ha-
cendadas farms, etc., it was too late
to do any work the first day.
The following morning, after a late
breakfast and the usual homage to the
district patroneSs, La Pacha Mama,
a hundred or so of us, under no dl-
rection unless 1t can be said to have
been the direction of the so or SO who
weren't working, filled in few holes
with earth, planted a few stones along
the route over the pampas to mark its
whereabouts, and then it was time TO
rest.
A few evolutions of the same sort in
the afternoon and the days work was
completed-a performance that could
have been effected with five men work
ing intelligently better than with the
misdirected and listless efforts Of sew
eral hundred.
To make q success instead Of farce
of our road building, there must first
be some planning. Then, when we nave
decided how many kilometers OF road
we are to build in year, suftlclent
appropriation should be made to cover
tools, explosives, transportation and any
ether materials or service required to
do the task and convey the laborers to
and from the operations. Better still.
shelter should be provided. so they could
remain with the work and not leave for
homes, coca" and a sieSta every time
the "senor maestro" Cooss) looks the
other way!
Tax Cut Impossible
In New Zealand.
Evening Post, Wellington.-The City
Council, at a special meeting yes
terday afternoon struck rates for the
current year upon almost exactly the
same level as these of the last financial
year. The mayor. Mr.. T. G. A. Hlslop,
stated that though very severe curtah-
ments had been made in the votes TO
various spending committees, outgoings
over which the Council had no control
the hospital levy. interest, cost of rais-
ing renewal loans, and of exchange
had considerably increased, and sub
stantial provision had also to be made
for unpaid rates and unemployment
relief. while revenue had fallen. With
one or two dissentient opinions, the
councillors agreed that no reduction In
the rates was possible.
Mr.. Hislop said that for the year
1930-31 the expenditure was f3O2, $50
and last year f230,450, reduction of
over f70.O00. AS result of that cur
failing of expenditures. 1t had been
possible to wipe out the deficit Of
f23 900 which the Council had had to
face on canning into Office and to come
out square. This year the position was
no better; in fact, it was worse, for IN
the coming year fixed expenditure
which the Council could not control
would be increased by EAT 1909, the four
items of increased outgoings being cost
of raising renewal leans, fs,447; ex,
change on London, f7,954; interest and
sinking fund charges, f10,381; hospital
and charitable aid levy, f6,127.
The Estimates Committee had gone
very carefully into the position, and, as
it was not possible to make any reduc-
ton In the fixed charges, had had to
look at tine ALLEGATIONS to various COM
mittees which could be reduced. The
reductions IN such votes were severe.
but there was no alternative.
The amount of rates outstanding last
year was $4,000, as compared with
f23,000 In the previous year; it was a