PATRIOTIC AFFAIRS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 77, 1 June 1943, Page 6

PATRIOTIC AFFAIRS

BREAK WITH AUCKLAND

MR T. I. STEELE'S LETTER

The following letter to the secretary of the Zone 'K' Patriotic Committee from Mr T. I. Steele, the. Opotiki delegate, sets out the, position as. far as the present move to break away from the Auckland Provincial Council, and form a separate Bay of Plenty Council is concerned. "When in Hamilton I had a conversation at. length with Mr Waddel and later -with Mr Waddel and Mr Fow together. I am quite happy about our relations with these gentlemen and am confident that their word may be relied upon. Waikato stands where Zone K stands in regard to the administra-

tion of Patriotic monies. They arc resolved to leave no stone unturned to sec to it that no political and local bodj* or questions of personal aggrandisement stand between "the giving public'' for Avhom they arc trustees, and the soldiers. They stand for a break-away from Auckland and as you know there, is where I stand to-day ... I am convinced that, we have waited and made .representations long enough . *. . take.a look at the time that! has elapsed since we first stated our position to the Commission on the matters of: — •1. Representation 2. Constitution 3. Control of After Care Monies 4. The inequitablencss of the position if sonic. Zones failed to meet their quota and ■ others over-sub-scribed. All this is dealt with in our cviHence to the Commission of which you have a copy, and you also have a lile of our representations to Auckland. since. t Apart from the fact that existing Alter Care monies are fading away, spent in general without any relation to the proportion of Zone contributions, there .remains the stark fact that in the last appeal! whole of the money subscribed in Zone Iv for which wc arc trustojejs was swallowed up to meet the, deficiency of the Auckland City area and. one or two other defaulting

zones. Had wo a chairman in Auckland who had ever showed any sign of appreciating the great honour of the position lie occupies as Provincial Chairman there might he some hope of gradually gaining point by point the equitable position we aim for. Mr Allum is hopelessly metropolitan minded; lie. cannot dissociate himself from position as Mayor and Chief Magistrate of AuckJand City to act, in the larger capacity, of chairman of the Auckland Provincial Patriotic Council. Time after time he tells meetings that Auckland Metropolitan cannotf be expected to meet its quota but violently resents any criticism, and, from the chair frustrates and abuses any country delegates Avho attempt to clarify the position. Waikato do not Avant the Bay of Plenty as part of their area in a new Council unless wc elect to go in with them, ancl are agreeable for us to go as far as Te Aroha with a new Bay Council if we so desire, but frankly state that Whakatanc is the only centre that they know of with the executive capacity . » . I -did not make any mention however of our ideas about Gisborne. Mr Allum knows he is in a mess now and is out to placate the country but only to help his position in the Metropolis; we are entitled to view his every move with suspicion.

I am out for a breakaway from Auckland and we .should, get. in line to do it .simultaneously with Hamilton (Waikato). 1 had almost despaired of getting out of .Auckland with our .share of capital monies, and credits for others failures to meet quotas. 1 think we should go for this without delay, asking for a statement of Assets and Liabilities and assuming our .share of both without murmur. I find that Waikato had written to the Minister of Internal Affairs —a very sound letter—and I got a confidential copy which I enciosc herewith. Waikato has. also replied at length to the Auckland Provincial Council re "Earmarking Monies." They cordially approve the principle but properly point out that Mr Allum's repeated expectation of the failure of the Metropolitan area ensures that there will be ft no funds to carmf ( v.c stay with them. No constitution is any good to us while we have a control in Auck-

land, that is so concerned as to its local personal position that the rights of the great country districts go by the board. This is. the crux of the whole, position and it demands that Ave should get. out, and as quickly as possible.

Ii wonder if a conference of the Northern. Central and Bay of Plenty Coastal District delegates could be arranged with a view saying to having an Auckland. Northern. South Auckland and Bay Council (four in all). The weakness is that Whakatane is not the natural centre and personally L would rather be in with South Auckland than in a separate Council with Tauranga or Rotorua as the centre. Waikato Avant all the A'ital things that Ave want and wc can depend on this arrangement from the word go.

It occurs to me in regard to Gisborne that we might encounter difficulty win. the Department if we not only want to break from Auckland but to go outside our area altogether and join up with the East Coast. The transfer of assets and liabilities the present area might suggest less objections to the official mind.

I have, as usual, expressed myself freely, but would assure, you, if this be necessary, that I stand by the decision of the Zone whether it suits my personal view or not."