WHATAUPOKO ROAD BOARD

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1028, 22 October 1903, Page 3

WHATAUPOKO ROAD BOARD

ANNUAL MEETING.

QUESTION OF AMALGATION DISCUSSED.

Tho annual meeting of ratepayers of the Whataupoko Road Board was held at the Whataupoko Band room last night. There was a fair attendance, the Chairman, Mr A. F. Matthows, presiding. The Secretary said that in looking through the minute book left by his predecessor ho couid not find any trace of the minutes of the previous annual meeting in the book. There was a blank sheet headed “ annual meeting,” and that was all. He had obtained a two-column report of the proceedings of the meoting as reported in tho Times, and this he had placed in the minute book. On the motion of the Chairman it was decided to take the report as read. Their recollection of it was that it was correct.

This was agreed to. The balance-sheet, road by the Secretary, showed a debit balauco of £560 6s 9d, as against i 486 3s Od for the previous year. Tho general rates collected amounted to £853 Is 2d, and the other sources of revenue were as follows Government subsidy on rates £l6 18s 4d, 10 per cent, penalty on overdue rates £lO 6a 3d, refund of advances on Joan interest accounts £ls 15s, grant for works from Borough Council £8 15s, miscellaneous 12s, making a total of £404 12s 9d. The chief items of expenditure were : —Public works £328 18s Id, administration £7O 18a, Gisborne Borough Council £lB sa, pound and ranging £2O Is, legal expenses £l2 10s, light iug £5 16a 6d, interest on bank overdraft iis 14s 9d ; loan interest account, No. 4, £4 19s 4d, No. 6 £6 12s 9d. The Chairman movod the adoption of

the balance-sheet, Mr W. H. Clayton seconding. Tho balance-sheet was adopted without discussion.

Tho Chairman invited any ratepayers present to bring any subject forward that they deem desirable. Mr E. P. Joyce introduced the question of amalgamation, which, he said, was causing a good deal of discussion. It did not affecs him much, but he thought that

before amalgamation was decided upon they should have tho voice of the ratepayers, who were tho chief parties concerned. A poll should certainly be taken before they amalgamated with the Borough or any other district. (Applause). The ratepayers themselves were the best judges as to whether they should amalgamate or not. He objected to a large number of ratepayers being compulsorily compelled to enter into amalgamation with the Borough. (Applause). No doubt Whataupoko required water and drainage, but that was no reason for their being compelled to amalgamate. As far as he could see the Borough and Haiti were not keen on amalgamation, and ho was sure Whataupoko was not. He wanted to see an expression of opinion from the district on the subject. The small holder with a quarter-acre section had as much right to bo considered as those having a much larger iotorest in-the distriot. He disapproved of the ward system, because it would result in Whataupoko being poorly represented. Mr Joyce concluded by inoviDg that a poll of ratepayers in Whataupoko Bbould be taken with a view of obtaining an expression of opinion, and the result of the poll be forwarded to the Government. (Applause). Mr W. H. Clayton asked whether Mr Joyce intended to take a poll on the limited area on Whataupoko, which it was proposed f-o amalgamate, or on the whole Road Board district.

Mr Joyce said he was in favor of taking tho poll over the whole district as at present constituted. Mr Clayton thought the whole of Haiti, Whataupoko, and Gisborne should be included, and it would then not be the size of Hastings, At present there were six local bodies where there might-only be one. In the three districts mentioned there was a great deal of money being wasted in administration, and all this could be saved and expended on the roads. (Applause.) Mr Joyce said he wished to see an equal distribution of the liabilities of the district. Each ratepayer should pay alike in proportion to the property he owned. He wished to see Barkers’ propeity included. Mr Clayton said that Mr Joyce now wished to see Taruheru and Titirangi included. He wished to see the boundaries stated. The Chairman asked that the motion should be seconded before disoussion should take place. Mr Clayton : 1 want to see the boundaries first defined. Mr Maunsell seconded the motion.

Mr Sievwright regretted that a greater number of ratepayers had not appeared before the Commissioner. Ho wished to see the question of amalgamation discussed, and favored a poll being taken. The Commission, to his mind, was a fiasco. The Commissioner had not the evidence of the people before him, and .had to form his own conclusions.

Mr W. D. Lysnar considered the present time an inopportune one to discuss the question, as it was subjudice. He regretted that some steps had not been taken to get a poll of the ratepayers taken. He had tried to get this done, but found himself in the minority on the Board. It was wrong to say that they were forcing this question of amalgamation, because the majority ef the ratepayers had signified for it. The Act provided that a fourth should sign, and more than half had done

so. A voice : I know of some who signed twioe.

Mr Lysnar : No, I do not think so. A voice : 1 know of six who have signed iwioe.

Mr Lysnar said that no doubt it was advisable to disouss the question, and he was pleased to see the manner in which it had been treated by Mr Joyce. He (Mr Lysnar) thought that many of those present did not properly understand amalgamation or else they would bo clamoring for it. What did Mr Warren have to say ? Mr Clayton ; He showed us in debt. Mr Lysnar: Under what oiroumstances ?

Toe Chairman said that Mr Lysnar should not bring forward the evidence that was taken at the Commission. Ho was going too much into details. If he (Mr Matthews) followed his example he could keep the meeting all night. (Laughter). Mr Lysnar : I thought it was intended to discuss the question. The Chairman : Not the details.

Continuing, Mr Lysnar went on to show that the County Counoil showed the riding in debt because it brought forward liabilities which had been incurred nearly a score of years ago. Mr Joyce rose to a point of order, Mr Lysnar himself had stated that the question was subjudice. All they wanted to affirm was the necessity to hold a poll on the quostion. A long debate ensuod, in which there wore some sharp dialogues. Tho Chairman said he was pleased that MrLysnnr’s had at last come round to his (the Chairman) view that a poll should be taken, and Mr Joyce charged Mr Ly snar w opposing it because it would retard and not help water and drainage, which Mr Lysnar denied. Tho Chairman said that as Mr Lysnar said a poll would be informal they could decide it by both resigning and having a straightout fight on amalgamation, but Mr Lysuar said he could not see how that would settle it.

The motion to have a poll in Whataupoko Boad Board district ns soon as possible was carried by 25 to 2. Then a warm discussion set in in regard to the methods of the Commission, which Mr Joyce denounced as farcical, whilo the Chairman described tho system of a Commission to decido what tho people should themselves decido, as the medieval sysstem in an ago of democracy,

It was decided to forward a copy of the resolution to the Minister, Mr Lysnar protesting that the matter had been gone into without notice.

Mr Withers and others complained that from speeches made by Me Lysnar ratepayers generally had understood they would not be allowed to appacr before the Commission.