TAUMARUNUI COUNCIL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 448, 5 March 1909, Page 8

TAUMARUNUI COUNCIL.

IHCTSTRATED AT ALMOST EVERY TURM. ' " (by. tele6baph—special correspondent.) . Auckland, March 4. After 'occupying office for a period of 12 months, the members of tho Taumarunui Native Township Council-met the ratepayers of tho township jn the Public Hall for . the purpose of tendering.their resignations, holding that, handicapped as they are at present, it is useless for them to go on without getting some definite expressidh' ! 6f"opinion from tho ratepayers. Thero wero obont 50 ratepayers present, including a number of ladios. Mr. \\': Gardiner was elected to tho chair. The chairman of the council (the Revl J. E. Ward) stated that thoy had had a considerable amount of talk by ratepayers with regard to tho betterment of the "township. He wanted to show them that the council had done its utmost in every w?.v. "When the council entered office it had £70 to pull up,._and it now had something to credit after having attended to several requirements, iliey would navo done more, particularly in regard to drainage, had they the means, but this was beyond their power, as they could not borrow, and the Maori Land Board would do nothing for them. So far as'the interests of the pattellas in Taumarunui were concerned, they might as woll talk to a wall as to the Maori Land Board.' Mr. Ward then proceeded to show how all forward steps taken by tho council had been frustrated at almost every turn cither by tho apathy of tho Government or the "Taihoa" policy of the - Native Land Board. In June last, he said, an application was made to the Government for a'public domain, and they received the reply, 'Unable to "grant" it; as the land Tr, l J r " y n„ Ve ; S^ d m the River , . Un , the same, occasion an application was made to gazette * notice validating the rate, but a reply came refusing to advise the council on the .matter.. In reply to an inquiry as to the steps necessary to obtain ?n j Co ! l , ncl ',Y.as informed .that Section o0 debarred the Minister from . granting a loan as it was purely Native land." Tfien a petition sent to Parliament to get the tenure of land altered,' but it was ignored. Un July 13 the council met the president of the Maniapoto Tuwharitoa Maori Land Board a t position before, him. Tliev asked for various things, iufcluding .the matter ot a recreation, ground, tho granting of a section for municipal buildings," the question of a reservo of. 34 acres of practically waste ground for municipal. purposes, the opening up of more township sections, and tho raising of means. / In regard to the first two matters tho council-was'advised to apply to tho Crown, while' in regard to the third the president said ho would recommend it to ho granted. As regards tho other matters the president replied that thev would bo- "considered." fliey wero still being "considered."

Mr. A. S. Laird, a member of the council, pointed out that under the existing system of 21 years' leases 'with revaluation at the end of that geriod the Maori landlords, while not spending a single penny in improving tlio place, wore getting all tho benefit, of everything the lessees did. The game was not worth the candle. (Applause.) The township block wanted drainage, water, and lighting, but they were unable to got them under tho present conditions. ' • > 1 The meeting ■requested the council to re-' main in office anffther three months'.