KEREPEEHI RATEPAYERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXV, Issue 4658, 6 February 1924, Page 4

KEREPEEHI RATEPAYERS.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Kerepeehi Ratepayers’ Association and Citizen s Progressive League was held in the Kerepeehi Hall on Monday evening for the purpose of discussing the business methods of the County Council, and the Machinery Loan. The Turua and Netherton ratepayers’ associations had been invited to be present. Mr E. S. Masters presided over an attendance of about 20 members of the Kerepeehi association and nine members of the Turua .association.

The secretary apologised for the unavoidable absence of Mr H. D. Jamieson, who was one of the men who had been active in bringing up the matter that was to be discussed, and had all the facts and figures. The chairman welcomed the members of the Turua association, and said that by such conferences the combined opinion of the ratepayers could be obtained.

In opening the meeting the chairman said that some of the ratepayers thought that there was something lacking in the business methods of the Council. The meeting was to discuss the matter, and, perhaps, to appoint a deputation to wait upon the Council and ask for an explanation.

Mr L. A. W. Bagnall said that several matters brought up at the previous meeting should be thrashed out, as it was of no use going to the Council with charges if they were unfounded.

Mr W. Thompson said that it was a pity Mr Jamieson was not present, as he had . the facts regarding the machinery. Continuing, Mr Thompson said that in regard to the punts he could speak on the matter. He had on numerous occasions .seen punts lying idle on- the Waihou River, as there was no one to unload them.

In reply to Mr P. R.. Henry the chairman said that the association had decided to discuss the matter without members of the County Council being present. Mr L. A. W. Bagnall said that one of the matters Mr Jamieson Intended bringing up concerned! tile grading of Wilson’s Road*. In Mi 1 Jamieson’s opinion the ground should have first been ploughed, before' it was graded. Mr Jamieson had spoken to the Council on the matter, but the engineer had denied it. The Council had then dropped yie matter. At the last meeting of the association Mr Jamieson had said that the work was going on in the same manner. He had challenged the councillors to visit Wilson’s Road and see for themselves. Mr F. .Truelove said he believed that the Council had erected a bitumen heater on Orchard East Road, ami that it now had to be removed. He asked if anyone could enlighten him on the point

Mr P. R. Henry stated that the Turua association had ; discussed the matter of the Kerepeehi request and had decided not to condemn the Council without hearing its side of the case. The Turua people had found that the Council usually had very good reasons for its atcions.

The chairman said-that the meeting was to appoint a deputation to wait upon the Council and ask for an explanation of several definite charges.. The meeting could now bring forward any matter it desired enlightenment on by the Council. Mr L A. W. Bagnall was of th a opinion that the question whether the machinery included in the proposed machinery loan was required should be settled. Then there was the question of the area for the loan. It. was of no use putting the loan again if it was to be turned down.

In regard to the bitumen boiler, the chairman said that they were usually of a portable nature.

Mr Bagnall said that plans and specifications foi? two punts had been obtained from a local man. The Council h’ad since ordered two punts' to be built to the same specifications from an Auckland firm for £2OO eacn more than that asked by the local man.

Mr W. Thompson said that Mr Hoff had the full particulars on ,this matter. but he could not be present at the meeting.

Mr D. G. McMillan thought that it : would be a mistake to send a deputation to the council meeting. It would be much better to invite the Council :to a public meeting. All the ratepayers could then be present and hear ;tho explanations. There certainly was a feeling of antagonism against the Council, but the best way to hear its views was at a public meeting. Tn regard to the idle machinery, the Council had to be advised by the engineer. Mistakes had certainly been made in the past. There was no doubt that the CouncfJ was doing its best, but had been ill-advised in the past.

Mr Bagnall said that when the Council had been invited to explain the Kerepeehi Riding road loan pro-; posal a definite cost for the work had' been given. No mention had been made of the fact, nbw disclosed, that this sum would only be sufficient 'f the machinery loan poll was carried.

Mr A; Sutton said that had the Council gone in for more propaganda and explained the machinery loan proposal more fully to the ratepayers, there would have been no doubt of tlie loan being carried. The chairmafn suggested that if definite charges could be produced the Council could be invited to be present to explain them. Mr Henry said that the Council would always visit meetings of ratepayers and explain its policy. The Turua people had always found this

The secretary thought that it would be preferable to define the complaints and put them before the Council as complaints from the association made after mature consideration.

The chairman stated that definite charges had been made at the previous meeting, three of which had already been mentioned. In addition there was the fact that the Council had anticipated the machinery loan and purchased machinery.

Mr Henry said that without definite information a deputation would be useless. The Kerepeehi association was accepting statements as facts. To quote one instance he mentioned the purchase of the punts. Cr. Madgwir*k had informed him that no quote had been received by the Council from a local man. Mr A. Loving said that apparently the association was working on rumour. Mr H. Hoff, who had just arrived, said that he had been informed by a local man, who was not a ratepayer, about the purchase of the punts. He was ,-orry the matter had been brought up at the present time, as nothing definite was yet known. However, he intended to investigate the matter thoroughly. Mr Henry suggested that, as there appeared to be nothing for the meeting to dp, Cr. Madgwick, who was present, should explain the machinery loan. Cr. Madgwick said that he was nor present as a councillor, but as a member of the Turua association. Tn regard to the machinery loan, the old one was for £30,000 and the recent one for £20,000. Of the first loan £lo’,ooo was to be raised yearly, and one instalment and part of the second hart been raised. There were many items in the old loan that were now not reauired, so the money, would not be raised. In regard to the bitumen boiler, he had not heard that it was to be moved. In any case, this was nut a county council matter, but concerned the Turua southern area. Mr D. G. McMillan said that there was an impression about that the Council would immediately lift the machinery loan. This would pnly be done when required. With regard to the. purchase of the punts, perhaps the additional price was to pay for them on the hire purchase system. The local man’s price may have been for cash.

Mr Mclntosh asked Cr. Madgwick why the Council, in calling tenders for the grading of Pekapeka Road, had stipulated that the contractor should supply all the machinery, including, graders. Surely the Kerepeehi. riding had some share in the Council’s graders. Cr. Madgwick said that this was a matter the engineer could explain. Other ridings had use for.the graders, and there was no doubt that they were working at high pressure. Mr Bagnall said that the Council should be in a position io do work without employing contractors. Contractors would undoubtedly damage the Council’s machinery if allowed tt j use it.

Mr Bagnall said that the loan fo/ Pekapeka Road was taken over from the Ohinemuri County Council,, and he thought that that area had a prior right to the' machinery. Mr J. Mdiitosh said tli.at had he been present at the previous meeting he would have advocated inviting the Council. He moved that a further ■ meeting be called, and that the Council and the Turua and Netherton associations be invited. This was seconded by Mr W. Thompson. • As an amendment Mr Henry moved th-it .the conference be held at. Turua, and that the Netherton association and the Council be invited. Seconded by Mr A. Sutton. Mr McMillan suggested that it be ; first decided whether a further meet- ; ing should be held. The question of the place was likely to cause, an argil- : mo nt. ! Or. Madgwick said that the Council j would be pleased to attend a meeting I wherever it was held. The amendment. was then put and : carried unanimously.

Mr Henry said’that the Turua association would therefore arrange all the details.

The chairman said that a member had expressed regret that a certain matter had been brought up. In his i opinion all doubtful matters should be investigated. If they proved to be . groundless the ratepayers would have . greater confidence in the Council. Mr Henry intimated that the meeting would be held in the Turua Buildings on Monday, February 18, at 8 p.m.