WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

Hokitika Guardian, 22 July 1924, Page 4

WESTLAND COUNTY COUNCIL

.MONDAY. .11'l.Y 21*1. A ,s] t':.iiil nicotine of the ( ouncil was lioM at p.m. Present: •- .Messrs K. A. Wells (Comity Chairman). NY. Jeffries, T. If. ( hostel man, M. Keenan, T. NY. Dull'. YOTTvS OK SYMPATHY. Tlni Chairman -aid it wa.s with deep regret he had heard Mine the Council last met e-T the death of Miss DulT, •sister Mr T. NY. Dull, and he uwv(>d that- tlie Council convey hv letter the deep sympathy ol the Council to Cr. Dull'. The motion was carried in silent e. loe ( hairii'an also u foi led lo the recent accident to Mr Arthur t liltou. former uu-mher ol the Council, and moved that a letter c.\| ressimt lh.'.ir sympathy and the ho] e ol a ,speedy recovery lie forwarded to Mrs Clifton. Se.ontletl 'by Mr Dull ami carried. TIAIDICU COMMISSION KIiTOHT. The Chairman .saitl the meeting laid linen called to consider the report • f the Timber Commission. "• Inch v in l l■ 1 have a vert set ions ollert tin tite Tmaiitos of the Count il. They should take every passible step to .safestitard me interests of the Cotllleil and make a linn prote-i ayain-t the lindinen rf the Commission. The County Clerk (Mr Kvans) said they had read the toleiraphed report of the linilino 0 f the Commission which a]t;:earet! on Saturday. The Cliaijman with Ale.ssrs Murtloch and Duff hail t t;n-itleretl it atlvisahle lo t all the .special niect.ino „f the Council in view of the fact that Mr Murdoch was unit. H to NYcllinoton next day. He had just learned that Air Murdoch was conlined to his ln*d that evening, and was unable to he present. Air O’Hiieii Al.l\ hail wired on Saturday that he had posted a copy of the report, and that had just come to hand by iho nijditks mail. 'I lie Cleric then proceeded to reed the report, which had just I icon received.

Alt' Jelfiios said tile only sane sng-

I ge.stion of the Coiiimis.sioner was wlnno 1 lie .suggested the Cor,noil should npj peal to Parliament for reilre-s. In ! view of the small attendance he sug--1 gosteil that consult", at ion i.f the report should he deferred until the next meeting of the Council 11 fortnight lienee, and that meantime the particulars of the report as it affected Westland he published for general information. Ho also sugge-Led that the three northern Councils lie conferred with, with a view to joint action. He also suggested that the Treasurer he asked to draw up a statement showing how the cat vying out of the conditions of the report would affect the Council. Mr Duff thought it would he necessary to have a conference of local bodies and also to take urgent steps to put the Council's position and claims before the Parliament. They sltodhl a so obtain the best legal opinion as to the position. The Government had taken away a lot of their revenue already and they Mere going to filch further revenue from the Council. After discussion. .Mr Duff moved that it conference of the West Coast County Councils he held at Gieynioulh on Monday, August, lib. at 11 a.in. and that Messrs Holland. Utilise 11 and O'Brien, Members of Parliament be asked tn attend, and to have t.he debate in the House held over until the conforenco had !>een held. The Hons Miclud and (irinimond also to he included. with a request that a representative of the Government he invit-

o;l to attend. So:muled by Mr Gilest'ernian nnj carried.

' Mr W, J. Butler, who was present, on the invitation of the Chairman, said tlie matter affected his Company very considerably seeing that they were ratepayers to the extent of Is in every £ of rates collected. He quito approved of the proposal for a conference of local bodies and that the most urgent action should he taken. When the Forest Act had been first brought forward the Sawmillers Federation had circularised all the local bodies on the suggestion of the inclusion of a clause in the Finance Act to safeguard the position of the local bodies, hut only the Westland County Council had replied thereto, and their proposal was not gone on with. If that proposal had liec-n given effect to at that time the present position would not have arisen. The Chainin' thanked Mr Butler for lii.s information ar.d the Council rose at 8.10 p.m.