TURUA RATEPAYERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4582, 4 July 1923, Page 4

TURUA RATEPAYERS.

SOCIAL EVENING. A social evening to wind up the financial year of the Turua Ratepayers' Association was held in the Turua IJeildir gs on Monday evening, the president, Mr D. G. McMillan, presiding. There were present. The county chairman (Cr. J. C. Miller), the riding member (Cr. W. Madgwick), the Plains representative on the Thames Valley Electric Power Board (Mr W. E. Willy), the chairman of the Hauraki Drainage Board (Mr G. Gray), Commissioners A. P. Gardiner,. F. Olsen, and F. Beck, of the Turua Town Board, and about forty others. The evening opened with t,he toast to the King, which was honoured in the usual manner.

Tn proposing the toast of “The Ratepayers’ Association” Mr D. G. McMillan said that the members need not be ashamed of what the Association had accomplished in the past year. It should be kept going,, as several big undertakings were in hand, and it was up to the association to keep local bodies up to the mark. It was for the'association to criticise, and members of local bodies welcomed constructive criticism. Turua had a name to live down, but a better tone now prevailed and members of local bodies would in future welcome criticism from ’Turua. The, greatest problem before the Plains at present was the reading question, and the association must back up any move to get permanent roads. The town was stagnant at present,, and visitors went away as soon as possible with a had impression of the place owing to the abominable state of the roads. Turua had. been accused of being narrow-minded in opposing schemes, but they must put their own house in order and fix up their roads. Turua and Ngatea would be the townships of the Plains, but. they must have good roads. A loan proposal was before the ratepayers of the Town Board area,, and many would be disappointed if one vote was recorded against it.

In responding Mr A. P. Gardiner said that the association had undoubtedly done much good for the district,,. and should be supported by ail. ratepayers.

Mr W. Madgwick also responded, and said that the association had fulfilled the object for which it had been formed and now was a power in the land. If the membership was greater more could be attained. Mr A.. Sutton said he hoped that the association would continue to prosper and carfy on with the good work.

Mr D. G. Rogers proposed the toast of “Local Bodies/’ and said that in the district ratepayers were fortunate in having such men to represent them as were members of local bodies. It was unfortunate that the County Council came into being at such an inopportune time, but they would soon be ou|t of the wood. In reference to good roads, he quoted the case of the Eltham county, which, had, perhaps, some of the best roads in the country, .and also a credit balance in the bank of £ll,OOO. They were, therefore, able to reduce rates. Permanent roads were undoubtedly cheaper in the long run. He urged that all ratepayers should do their utmost to get good, permanent roads. To those in authority he urged that they have a job well done,- and not to be. sparing in money to attain that end. Import brains if necessary, but get them.

Mr W. E. G. Willy, of the Thames Valley Power Board, in responding, said that in reference to employing brains, one man employed by the Power Board had saved them £50,,000 and the Dominion a,s a whole millions of pounds. It certainly .paid to pay for brains. The Thames Valley board had one of the largest areas in New Zealand, and had been congratulated by Government officials. They had proved that a power board could reticulate an area and supply electricity without collecting a rate. He did not take any credit for the operations ofi the Board, but much was due to Mr J. C. Miller, who had represented the Plains for over three years. Referring to masters near at hand, he advocated support for the County Council’s machinery loan, as good roads were an absolute necessity, and they could not be made wtihout machinery. He then gave .some very interesting facts concerning concrete reading in America.

Mr G. Gray, chairman of the Hauraki Drainage Board, said that it was not a nice time of the year to say he represented a drainage board. However, before the Drainage Board was formed the country was a bog. Now it was apparently little better, but never before had there been such a wet, season. He traced the operations of the board from its inception, and said that now the object was to have one board to control the whole area between the two rivers. When the Hauraki Board was formed there was only a small area bounded by Government land, and it was well known that the Government was not a good neighbour. Within the last few months a movement had been launched to form a drainage board to amalgamate with the Hauraki Drainage Board. In his opinion this was the best thing that could happen. Mr J. C. Miller,, chairman of the County Council, said that any ratepayers’ association that worked for the advancement of the district was a help to local bodies.' He traled the activities of the County Council from its inception, dwelling on the rating aspect and the requirements of the future, urging the ratepayers to support the machinery loan that would be placed before them in the near future, in regard to’the saving by the Power Board in purchasing brains, Mr Willy had referred to the action of one of their engineers, who maintained that high and low tension wires could be run on the same poles. Other engineers had maintained that two sets of poles would be required, but this engineer had proved that it could be done, and millions would be saved by power boards.

The toast of “The Visitors” was proposed by Mr P. R. Henry, who said that, it was practically impossible for

visitor® to get, to Turua owing to the state of the roads. Mr H. W. Webb„ of Thames, responded, and said that it gave him great pleasure to be present. Mr J. C, Miller also responded, and said that he supposed they thought him to blame for the state of the roads, so had invited him tp be present. Mr J. E, Green,, in proposing the toast of “The Pianist” (Mr W. E. Webb);, said that Turua had boasted of being able to do without Thames, but had found that they could nolt do so. Mr Webb responded. The toast t,o “Sport” was proposed by Mr Brownlee, who said that sport played an important part in a district, and the development of sport showed the development of the district. Mr Chapman, responding, said that Turua deserved much credit, for the way it had conducted its sports. Last year three cups had been brought to Turua.

Air G. Porteous also responded, and asked that the local bodies help the local sports clubs in getting a sports ground. Mr F. Goodsell, in his response, also referred to the local sports ground, which with a, little work could be made fit for football, cricket, bowls, etc., and would be a credit to the Plains.

In proposing the toast of “The Turua Concert Party” Mr F. Stevens said that, Turua had talent, and it remained for the concert party to bring it out. Dr. Bathgate, in his response, suggested that the Ratepayers' Association become a progress league, so that others besides ratepayers might become members and help the town along. ( Mr Walker also responded, and said that the recent concert had been the means of contributing £2O towards the township lighting scheme. Mr A. C. Luke proposed the toast of “The Ladies,” saying that the previous speakers had known their subjects thoroughly, but he knew nothing of ladies.

Dr. Bathagte, responding, told some humorous yarns. Mr J. H. Johnson also responded,

saying that,, being a married man,) he had to be careful what he said. The toast to the “Press” was proposed by Mr A. Sutton and responded to by Mr W. Wylde, of the "Hauraki Plains Gazette” staff. The evening closed with the, singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” During the evening songs were rendered by Dr. Bathgate and Messrs J. H. Johnson, A- Sutton, V, Cassin,, and P. Henderson.