RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION

Gisborne Times, Volume IX, Issue 923, 23 June 1903, Page 3

RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION

A mooting of the newly-formed Rato' payers’ Association was hold in Whin' ray’s Hall last evening. Upwards o twenty ratepayers wero present, Air F. Harris presiding. The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, suid that it was tho wish of many ratepayers in Gisborne that there should ho a Ratepayers’ Association formed, for thero wero many things that required attention. He might mention a fow of , these. There was the question of abattoirs and cemetery sites to ho considered, us well as many matters affecting the Borough Council and Harbor Board. It wus as well that tho ratepayers should instruct tho Councillors in many things. Mr Birch urged the necessity of forming a Ratepayers’ and Householders Association. and moved a motion to that effect. Ho thought that a great deal of good would come from such an Associa-

tion. Mr E. Smith seconded tho motion, which was carried without further discussion. The Chairman said that Air Oxcnham

hud soot uwuy for rules of the Wellington Association, but they bad not yet come to hand. Mr Oxcnham suggested that a secretary bo appointed. He expected the rules to hand shortly, but a letter from tho secretary would hasten their coming. Mr Colley ptoposed that Mr Whinray should he president oi the association. Mr Whinray thought that the president should not be a member of tho Borough Council, as there were many matters that the Association and Council might disugteo upon. He proposed that Mr I'.

Harris lie elected president. Mr Somervoll seconded Mr Haras’s nomination. Ho thought ho was tho right man for tho position. Mr Harris, in returning thanks, said he would do his best. He wanted tho Association to do good work, and he would look

to members for support. Mr Birch proposed that Mr Gaudin bo elected secretary, but the latter asked to be excused, and Mr Morico was appointed to tho position. Mr Somervell said that a committee should he appointed, and the question of fiuuiico also required consideration. Tho following wero appointed members of tho Committee Humphreys, Colley, Lysnar, Webb, Oxenbam, and Birch. Mr Colley suggested that all persons present should becomo members, aud this was agreed to. Mr Harris said that ho had hoard it stated that tiie Association would bo dovoted to tho interests of the Wost End as against tho City, but this was not so. Tho Association would do all in its power to forward the interests of tho Borough as a whole. (Applause.)

Mr Colley pointed out that tho members of the Committee should do all in

their power to enrol members. Mr E. Smith urged that no member should bo onrolled without bo paid his

subscriptions, and in this way the Association would always bo financial. Mr Whinray said that tho initiation fee might bo tixod at one shilling. “ And it may as well bo paid now,” remarked tho Molu champion, as ho picked up his hat and went round among those present collecting their shillings. Objection was however taken to this course, and discussion following it was de-

cided to do away witfi an initiation fee, and charge half a crown subscription per

year. Most of those present paid their halfcrowns aud became members. Mr Morico wus appointed treasurer, as well as secretary. Mr Birch was gratified to see tho Association formed at lust. Ho had boon

working for it for ovor two years, and he

hoped to see good results loliows. The Ohuirmau said that Air Birch was convener of tho mooting, and was in a measure responsible for tho Association being formed. On the motion of Air Somorvell, a vote of thanks was accorded to Mr Birch. Mr Birch thanked the meeting for the vote. What ho had done was for tho good of tho whole town, and he did not look for thunks.

Ale H. Miller thought tho ratepayers might tako steps to urge muuicipalisation of ifie gasworks. They might also deal With tho question of borough reserves. Air Somorvell thought the borough ought to own all the property. The Council °would then bo able to draw all rents, and have good roads. He believed the day would come when the Council would borrow tho money and buy up all tho property. (Laughter.) » You may laugh, remarked Mr Somervell, ‘ but the day will come when this will he brought about.” (Applause.) Continuing, Air Somervell spoko in favor of acquiring the gasworks. Ho considered ic was a crying shame that the Harbor Board did not do their own lightering. _ .. Mr Birch agreed in a measure with Air Somervell as to the borough going in for tho gasworks and the Harbor Board doing tho lightoring of the port. He thought, however, that tho coming election was the question that should be first dealt with. There wore four candidates, one of whom, Air Kennedy, had declared himself in favor of Waihirero water supply, whilst tho other three were opposed to that source. . ... A voico : Air East is not against Waihi-

tore. Mr E. Smith said that Mr East was not against Waihirere. Mr Birch wanted to seo two of the candidates withdraw, so that tho contest would bo determined on distinct lines. Mr Birch said that ho understood that Mr East was against Waihirere, but Mr D. Morico thought differently. Mr East had informed him that he would stick to the Engineer’s report. The Chairman thought that Mr Matthews should address the mooting and be subjected to questioning. (LaugUter.) Mr Lysnar pointed out that tho Council had boon very slack of late, unil tho traces required tightening. Ho was strongly in favur of a water and drainage schome, but he wanted to seo tue question dealt with on its merits, They had a right to put their opinions against thoso of the engineer. He urged the claims of Mr Matthews upon too electors. Mr I'kisi arrived at this stage, and being invited by the Chairman to ad-

dress the meeting, did so. He considered that Waihirere was the best water supply scheme that had so far been suggested. He was a great lover of experts, and thought that they as amateurs should give way to Mr Mestaycr’s opinion. ‘lf he wanted a house built, lie sought the services of a carpenter, or if he wanted a boiler constructed, be went to an expert. If a practical engineer approved of any modification in a particular scheme, they should follow his advice. They did not want

any “ white elephants ” in the Com eil ; they would prefer to leave that to the .Harbor Hoard. (Laughter.) Leery efl'ort should he made to induee persons from other parts of the colony to settle in (risbornc, but there was little hope of much being done in this way until a proper water and drainage scheme was obtained. People of means would not settle in Gisborne. Ninety per cent, of the population were working people, amongst whom he. included himself. In Napier many wealthy men settled on the hills, hut they fought shy of Gisborne. He felt certain in his own mind there would he a reaction in Gisborne in regard to land values, and the only lliing that would prevent it would he a water supply. Nature had not been very kind to Gisborne in regard to a water supply. Mr I.ysn.it : Nature has been very kind indeed ; it has given us a beautiful source in the Waimata. Mr Whinray : And the open sky. (Laughter.) , .. . , Continuing, .Mr Hast urged that another expert engineer should he brought It) Gisborne to report on the Waimata source, and they could then pit one source against the other. He called himself a common-sense ratepayer, and there only one source before him, and that was Waihirere. In regard to drainage, he would take a competent, engineer's recommendation. He approved of Mr Mesi layer’s scheme. i Mr .Johnston pointed out that it i had been decided by an overwhelming t majority that Waihirere wtm the best scheme.. .To discuss this mc.t-

I tor was simply drawing a red herring across the scent. The Chairman called Mr Johnston to order, and asked Mr Matthews to address the meeting. Mr Matthews said I hat he had every confidence in the opinion of the people of lhe district, and whatever they did as a whole, he believed to he right, arid would support, lie did not take exception to anything that Air Mestayer had stated in his reports, Init there was the question of cost. The town required a considerable sum to he spent on roads and for other purposes besides water and drainage. Gisborne could not. afford to carry out Mr Mestayer’s scheme in all its details. He was standing in the interests of tiie town, and lie contended Unit they must not go beyond their means and buy a rale that they were unable to hear. They would simply ruin their town.

A Voice : You cannot, ruin it. Continuing, Air Matthews went i

to tiie details of Air Alestayer’s water and drainage scheme. lie contended that to drain offensive matter inio the river was simply courting disaster, and Hie place would fie l ife with fever. He confessed that it was against his will that he had consented Lo stand for the present election, hut. so many electors liacl urged him that lie had given way. He would do all in- could if elected, to assist in forwarding flic, interests of Hie town.

in answer to Mr Alorice, Air Alatthews said that he had taken Mr Ales layer’s lowest estimate, Lite minimum .scheme. Air iWoriq*; : But Unit lias been still further reduced. Air Matthews: ft lias been, hut not by Air Ales layer. Air Townley Juts reduced it.

Mr Webb : .They say that tiie pipes are to he made oul of shavings, and that there will he a still further reduction. (Laughter.) Mr Whinray, in answer Lo a question put by Mr Alorice, referred

at icngeh to'the drainage scheme, contending that a much more economical scheme could he obtained, lie

Imped that the ratepayers would insist that both schemes should be remodelled. Once the money was voted tiie Council would make “ ducks and drakes ”of it. As at present constituted, the Council had the upper hand. Jle deplored tiie state

of things at present going on. He could see that th e place would he slumped if the borough borrowed ,L 7. r ),llllll on problematical works. Air Lysnar emphasised Lhe necessity for putting a live man into the, Council, not a dead one. lie did not want to see a man who would sit down and do nothing, but simply follow the engineer. If he (Air Lysnar) wanted a house, lie would tell the architect what he wanted.

They should not send into the Council a man who would sit hack and ride on the traces.

Air Johnston pointed out that tho Council in adhering to tho Waihirero sefiemo were simply following out the wishes of tho ratepayers. It tho ratepayers at the next poll Uectdod on another

sclicme that would Oo the one the Council would adopt. Tfio matter should be pur boforo tfio ratepayers honestly and fanny. Ho believed that ultimately the loan proposals would mean a rate of 4s. Air Whinray referred to the altered circumstances.

Mr Johnston : Where are the altered circumstances'? Mr Mestayer had not altered them.

Mr Whinray : But Mr Townley has. Air Colley : We aro not here this evening to hear one Councillor go for another. There should be some order. The Chairman : Order. Air H. Aliller said that he came to the meeting believing that matters affecting tho ratepayers were to be dealt with, bur it appeared to him that they were going over old ground. He claimed that the water and drainage schemes had been decided upon, and the only thing now left was the rate of interest. Tho Chairman said that the question was of vital importance to himself, for it meant doubling his rates. He did not mind that so long as tho scheme was a sound one j but he first wished to be convinced upon that score. He urged that greater interest should bo taken by the ratepayers in the affairs of the Council.

Mr Lysnar said they must not return to the Council a man tied and fettered to the Engineer. Air Lysnar said that no engineer other than Air Alestayer had favored Waihirero. He (Air Lysnar) was prepared to give £5 to the Hospital if ho was wrong. No othor engineer would suggest to put a dam in such rotten country. It was wrong to say that all engineers had favored Waihirere, for they had not done so in the same sense as they were asked to vote upon it. The ratepayers had, he contended, been asked to vote upon false information and false impressions. He felt rolioved when Mr Kennedy did not stand at tho recent election (laughter), and the ratepayers would make a great mistake if they returned that gentleman. At tho last election he (Cr Lysnar) sat quiet because Cr Kennedy was not there.

Continuing, Mr Lysnar said : 11 1 fear Mr Kennedy coining back because of his inlluence on this question. You will not improve matters by putting in a councillor who is tied to any engineer." Mr R. N. Jones expressed pleasure in being allowed to speak before retiring altogether from public lifo. Ho regretted that the water and drainage scheme had not been obtained before bo left the Council, tor it was for that purposo that he had first gone on the Council. At some length Mr Jones replied to Mr Lysnar’s and Mr Whinray’s remarks, upholding Mr Meslayer’s rsport, and claiming that it was the only practical scheme. No resolution was proposed, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to tho Chairman.