CIVIC AFFAIRS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 138, 9 December 1930, Page 11

CIVIC AFFAIRS

TWO INTERESTS

LEAGUE TAKES A STAND

RATEPAYERS TO MOVE

The activities of the recently-formed Wellington City Katopayers' Association, in relation to those of the Civic League were the subject of a lengthy discussion at the annual meeting of the league last evening. Councillor G. Mitchell urged that an endeavour should be made to secure co-operation between tho two bodies in the interests of the city, but the general opinion was that the league had already gone far enough ii that direction and it was for the association to make the advances. A motion to arrange a further conference ; with the association was rejected almost unanimously. " 'Councillor" Mitchell said he thought it would bo a grave error if there were any friction between bodies set up for ' 'identical purposes. There was no room for two such bodies; in fact, the league had been created to obviate the danger of conflicting interests. If there were two "tickets" it would be more or less fatal to the league's interests and those of the city. POCKETING ITS PRIDE. The league should put its pride in its pockets and send a delegation to the Ratepayers' Association to see if a nettlement could be arranged, said Mr. L. Whyte. "We will be faced very shortly with an election for the Mayoral chair and the council," he said, "and if no settlement is reached we may be shouldered with a Labour Mayor next year. Although we are the parent body, we ought to pocket our pride and meet the association to see if we can discuss the position. I have an assurance that the association is prepared to join up with the loague if it is given a lepresentation of six." Mr. D. Q. Clark said that his personal opinion was that the league had gone too far in its advances and tho association had taken advantage of its action., . The president (Mr. J. H. Whittaker) said that the council of the league had realised how. embarrassing it would be if the two bodies adopted different courses and ton members were appointed to meet a similar number from the association. They brought back certain proposals which the council did mot care to accept. "We felt that before nominating another gentleman for Mayor we should wait on Mr. Troup and ask Mm to reconsider the position. We did not feel justified in rushing the 'matter. The step taken by the league ' Sas, I believe, met with general approval, and we have to wait for the Mayor's decision in January." Mr. P. Myers moved that a delegation of four from the league meet four members of the association to discuss the question of the latter body joining tip under the present constitution, with a promise that if the membership were sufficiently large the representation on the league would be six. "I think they are just aa anxious as wo are that ■ thereshould be no split in the camps," ; lie added. Mr. N. A. ZToden considered that the feonstitution was wide enough at pre- * feent for their purposes. The ."Ratepayers' Association had seized upon the question of betterment, to which it really owed its origin. It had enrolled ?, large membership and had tried to take •the whole of the credit for stalling off the Betterment Bill. The association had good funds and was well organised, but, said Mr. Foden, he fancied - that it would lose cohesion unless dif- ■ f erent tactics .were adopted. He said ' ito.was opposed to any settlement which ; held out a promise that the association •would have better representation on the league than the suburban bodies and prophesied the formation of a suburban league' if the parent body discriminated in such a way. Mr. A.C. Blake stated that the Civic League was the prime mover in opposing the betterment proposals. Mr. Myers agreed to modify his jnotion by making it a recommendation io the incoming council. THE NEXT MOVE? The next move should come from the Ratepayers' Association, said Mr. T. Gray. The league was strong enough to stand its ground. Mr. Myers: "But we can become irntch stronger. It is far better to be diplomatic." ,' Mr.'Gray: "If the Labour Party gains ground it will be their fault, not curs." Mr. Myers: "We don't want to take that high-handed stand if we can induce ttiem in some way to come in and form one large, central body." After correspondence from the association had been read in committee, Mr. Ifoclen said that it seemed clear that the association was not prepared to re-cede-'from its support of Mr. Wright. He thought it would be undignified to attempt to negotiate again with the associaion. The motion was lost by an overwhelming majority.