CONSIDERED "CASE OF FEW LEADING THE MANY"

Chronicle (Levin), 11 March 1948, Page 4

CONSIDERED "CASE OF FEW LEADING THE MANY"

Waikanae's froposed Break With County Further details 'of "the prop.osed break with the Horowhenua County , by Waikanae township and beach were revealed at yesterday's meet- , ing .of, the Horowhenua County, Council when an- expianatory letter, accompanied by a resolution, was received from the Waikanae Beach Progressive Association. . ; "I think this is a case of a few leading the many,", was the comment of Cr. R. W- Jenkins- when the, letter was read. He added that the meeting from which the resolution emariated was attended by about 24, not all of whom were in support of the proposal. He recommended that no action be taken -until thef opinion of ali the settlers was forthcoming, The resolution from the association read: — "That this association is in favour of the following- proposal: That the Waikanae district, including the ■ beach and township and all' the area within the north - eastern boundary of- the Field Estate, be severed from the Horowhenua County and amalgamated with the Hutt County, and that the exact boundaries,, terms" of transfer, etc., be considered by the association, before being flnalised." m an accompanying -letter, the association stated that the reason for the resolution was tliat the Horowhenua County. was predominantly a . farming one, and the Waikanae district was- the only part of it where suburban developments impinged to any extent. Consequently, the council had very ,f ew by-laws dealin'g with matters connected with such development. ' The Hutt County Council, on the other hand, was practically administering • greater ■ Wellington and the problems of Waikanae were commoii to it. The Hutt Council had all the by-laws necessary to administer a town. It had town planning and administration with experience of suburban needs. "We should also gain a beneficial rating system by the change," the letter added, "and this would save our members much hard work and campaigning in the future. The association believes that the Horowhenua County Council is com-

petent and fair and, generdlly speaking, hapdle.s wisply 'Ghe-p-ffai^s of the county, but that our needs and, demarids are outside its ort)iifc " . *s Commenting, .Cr,. L. F. Brown said that there was not much that the council could do at' this juncture, as the boundaries of the proposed scheme had not yet been. clearly ■ defined. - "They seem tq tpink that Waikanae is the only town in this position, but there are otii.G£>s " The chairman, Mr. A. M. Colqu^S i houn : It boils down to this that we have a resolution, but befpte we act we want more eyidence. We represent the whole of the rats,payers in the district, and we must be sure', where they stand- There -is a coristitutional way of doing a thing like this 'and that is by P.etition. I don't think we woiild be justifled in accepting this resolu=tion on its face value until we gefc further evidence. Cr. Brown: Until we haye the boundaries defihed, cwe don't knoyr who is in or out. I kuow the people in the old village of Waikanae are not interested. • Cr. E. R. Winkler:- Aren't we » beating about the bush. If a peti- ■ tjon is forthcoming we will see that it goes to the right quarters. I ean't see wha.t action we can take , at the 'moment. The chairman': We- could act on. ,this. Cr. Taylor: My view is that very few want the change. We haypV been very* fair with Waikanae in the past._ Other councillors expressed jsimilar views, stating that the ! council had administered the area ! quite satisfactorily before and ] would continue to do so. , ! The county clerk, Mr. F. H. Hudison, stated that the position was j that if not less than two thirds of ta population petitioned for 'a ' change, the petition- could be for- ■ iwarded to the Governor-General, Kvho in turn could set up a commission to enquire into the matter. Even if af petition was forthcoming 'from the people, the council could present its case for the retention of the area. Following further discussion, it , was decided that a letter be sent to the association stating that the council did not fayour the proposed break.