NETHERTON RATEPAYERS

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4889, 12 October 1925, Page 3

NETHERTON RATEPAYERS

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. The nanuai meeting of the Netherton Ratepayers’ Association was held on Saturday evening, Mr J. A., Reid presiding in ,the absence of the president. There were 26 ratepayers present. REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The annual, report of the president, Mr T. Vow les, stated that! during the year-four meetings had been held. The association had been responsible for the road loan proposal, which had me.t .with the approval of 95 per cent, oi the ratepayers. It was very gratifying to know that after striving for three years there would scon be good roads for all parts, of the riding. The thanks of the association was due to Mr. H. Poland, M.P., for the able fight put up on behalf of the Netherton riding in Parliament and which resulted in the defeat of the Hauraki Plains County Empowering Bill. It was gratifying to note the good feeling existing between the association and the. riding representative, and also the county engineer. Due to this the association had b/jen able to do much good work. Better work .would no doubt have been done had the association been more representative of the district, and efforts .should be made to increase the membership. The balance-sheet for .the year ending October 10 showed that the debit balance had been reduced from £l2 5s 6d to £5 8s 3d. There were nine members whose subscriptions amount-, ed to £2-ss. Donations brought the total receipts up .to £l2 Ils 6d. Legal advice and advertising constituted the expenditure.

The report and balance-sheet were adopted after several speakers had urged all ratepayers of the riding to become members of .the association. The subscription was only 5s a year. ' An instance Of the effect of the low membership was mentioned by Mr Reid. He pointed out that the association had. been the means,of having the day of the pcpt office half-holi-day changed, and when later a petition had been presented to .the Chief Postmaster he had written to the secretary asking how many members . there were. Ais .there were only nine members the request carried no weight against the largely signed petition. The appeal met with ,a ready response, and within a few moments the secretary • collected subscriptions amounting to £3 15s. . VOTE OF THANKS. Mr Reid, on behalf of the president, moved that: a vote of thanks be accorded Mr H. Poland, M.P., for his work on behalf of the association in opposing the bridge policy of .the County. Council. Mr H. Hare seconded and the motion was carried;.. REPRESENTATIVE ON COUNCIL. Mr Jamieson moved that Cr. H. JHare be asked to reconsider his decision not to s.tand at the next County • Election. f ■ This was carried in numerous places, unanimously. Mr Hare said he much regretted that he would not be able to afford time to act as councillor. He wished to .thank the meeting;for the compliment paid him. . ’ AWAITI ROAD. Mr Hill, pointed out that a subsidy of £lOOO had been voted for Awaiti South Road on a £ fqr £ basis. He was of opinion that the County Council shbuld be .asked to endeavor to get this money at once, as the loan money, would not be available in time to permit work to be done during the coming summer. Cr. Hare said .that the council had asked on several occasions for this subsidy to be converted into a free grant. He did not know how the request to advance the subsidy would be considered, as the: Minister for Lands appeared to deal very harshly with the Plains County. Mr Hare’s motion .Was seconded by Mr Whisker and carried, and it was also decided to approach Messrs. Poland and Rhodes; M’s. P., on the matter. .

! SCHOOL ROAD. Mr S. Fisher moved, and Mr C. Pointer seconded, that the council be ask>ed to endeavour .to get the £looo' £ lor £ subsidy for school Road advanced.—Carried. Cr Hare explained that subsidies could not be lifted until the work was completed.'To finish a job the council had to borrow money until the subsidy came to hand. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers of .the association for the year resulted in Mr T. Vowles being re-elected president, Messrs. J. A. Reid, E. A. Chester, and H. Hill, vice-presidents, Mr C. Stembridge, secretary and treasurer, and Messrs. R- Roberts, P. Harold, F. Johnstone, E. Jamieson, W. Townsend, G. Fisher, C. Potter, B. Whisker, and B. executive committee. ROADS COMMITTEE. A meeting of the committee appointed at the previous meeting in connection with the reading scheme was gfedhen held.' Mr J. Reid was appointed chairman, and Messrs. S. Fisher, E. Jamiesbn, and E. Chester, the good roads committee.