Ratepayers' Association Reviews Year

Chronicle (Levin), 7 December 1949, Page 4

Ratepayers' Association Reviews Year

"1 am pleased to be able to report that we have experienced ahother successful ahd most progressiye year," said the retiring president, Mr. H. A. Rippin, ih his report. to" the annuai mfeeting of the Levin Ratepayers' Association last night. The membership had remained strong ahd *» financially the association was reasonably secure. The president paid tribute to members of the committee, Who had worked- coiiscietttiOUsiy for the good of the organisation. The outcome of their endeavours had been most gratifying, he added, The year had proved an interesting one" with the adveiit of- a by-election fdr the Borough Council, brought about by the resignatioii of crs. D. J. Gardiner and F, D. Chainey, continued Mr. Rippin, Messrs W. Seddon and F, Croot had been sponsored by the associajJon as candidates and although th^- had been unsuccessful, it was felt that the early interefit shown by the association had been instrumental in rousing public interest, there beihg nine COhtestants for the two Vacancies. .

i>urmg january, memoers oi me Shannon Ratepayers' Association had met with the local committee to discuss the improved ratihg system, stated the president. The meeting had been successful and it was hoped that it would be a forerunner of further yisits between the neighbouring associations. The president concluded by Stating that the memhers looked forward to a third year of progress and united effort. Extencling Membership. A motion put forward by Mr. W. Seddon, that the name of the association be changed to include the word citizens, aroused much discussion from the meeting. The proposer submitted that by including citizens in the title it would enable non-ratepayers to attend- the meetings and discUss certain issues that concemsd them, It was understood, he Commented, that such persofis Would not have" the right to vote on financial or any other questions that were the direct concern of the ratepayers. • it might also serve to ehlarge the membership of the association. "We may get a lot of new members," said Mr. Rippin when speaking to the motion, "but then again we may lose a considerable number." It was quite probable that many of the present mem-

bers would leave the association if citizens were included. "After all it is we who pay the rates, and we should consider this question very carefully. It is an experiment that might be very costly to the association," he added.

Supporting the motion, Mr. J. Cormack said that it would have the effect of increasing the membership'" r bf the association. He considered that faCt to be of ptimary importance. Following further discussion the motion was put to the meeting and rejected by a substantial majority. A second motion, suggesting that quarterly meetings he adopted rather than the present system of monthly meetings was accepted. The meeting considered that the amount of business handled by the association could be easily coped with in quarterly meetings. Officers Elected. The election of officers was as follows: — President: Mr. F. Croot; vice-presidents: Messrs A. D. Brash and L. F. Du Rhone; sec-retary-treasurer: Mrs. B. T. Bruce; trustees: Mrs. Bruce and Mr. Du Tthone; auditors: Messrs Martin and Seddon; committee: Mrs. W, Seddon and Messrs -H. E. Herrffig, W. Bishop, J. Doyle and W. G. Bishop. When thanking members for the confidence , shown in him, the president said his aim as far as the association ,was concerned would toe to foster the object's for Which it was founded and to sponsor any movement for the. good of the association. "I feel that We have achieved something in the past," added Mr. Croot. "Being an antagonistic type of body * for that is just what we are, we shall have to take what we get from the different authorities we niggle at from time to time."