RIDING BOUNDARIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 22, 9 November 1943, Page 5

RIDING BOUNDARIES

DISCUSSION BY COOK COUNTY PARALLEL TO WHAKATAXE l.n view of the recent discussion On the alteration of riding boundaries bv the Whakatane.'County Council recently it is interesting to note the decision of the Cook and Marlborough County Councils avlicu discussing a similar revision of boundaries-, to leave the divisions unaltered. In the last issue of "Board and County" the report 011 the abene. deliberations reads: — The Cook County Council considered a proposal to alter the boundaries of three ridings at a recent meeting.. The council had discussed the. proposal at a meeting held in committee, and a report submitted to the monthly meeting stated that. the majority of the councillors present indicated that they were, satisfied Avith the present, ridings and the representation and they believed their ratepayers Ave re satisfied, too, but they were prepared to agree to an alteration in deling boundaries if the representation 011 the .council Avas made more equitable. One suggestion made was that a eemmission should be appointed to go into the whole matter on the ground that the council; was not complying with the Act, but the county clerk, Mr F. T. Robinson, explained that he had discussed the matter with the Internal Affairs Department, who informed him that only ratepayers were entitled to ask for a commission on that matter* and the. expenses would have to bo borne by those ratepayers and not by the council. Another suggestion made was that the simplest Avay to revert to the old. system of riding accounts, but the county clerk exp.'ainedi that. 110 legislation AA'as in existence to allow the council to tlo tLis. Other councillors expressed the view that the elimination of the riding accounts was the best move the council ever made. Eventually, the council in committee, on the chairman's casting vote, decided to recommend the. enlargement of the Tiniroto anel Te Aroha ridings by reducing Te Aroha and add.ing to Tiniroto and by reducing Patutahi and adding to both Tiniroto and Te Aroha. The effect of the proposal Avould be to make Te Aroha and Tiniroto ridings larger and Patutahi riding smaller. Eleven members Avere present at the committee meeting. When the proposal came before, the monthly meeting of the council. however, there was, a full attendance, and a motion to adopt the report, containing this proposal Avas lust. Decision at Marlborough Hiding representation was discussel in accordance Avith statutory requirements requiring revisioni if nceessary, in the September preceding an election year. The county clerk. Mr A. J. Maclainc, said that he and the engineer had worked' out a table showing the average proportion of ratepayer peculation and ratable value of each riding with 12 a-: the unit. Wairau Hiding was 2.000. Oina'ka .'S.SO, Spring Creek and Pelorus '2.10. On population alone, Omaka had the largest proportion with 1.. 17. A motion that representation on the Council remain as at presentj was carried. As a result of the decision there vviil. be no changes in boundaries or the numbers of riding representatives at next year's County elections.