KAIHERE RATEPAYERS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4907, 25 November 1925, Page 3

KAIHERE RATEPAYERS.

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION. The flrs,t meeting of the newlyformed Kaihere Ratepayers’ Association was held in the hall last evening, the President, Mr E. Harris, presiding over the following Messrs J. D. Hewitt, L. R. Mclndoe, A. Kersley, T. Lynch, J. Lynch, J. E. Davies, E. Walters, W. Mclnnes, G. Elvidge, H. Walton, H. Stone, J. Foote, F. Woodbridge, N; Reiddy; T. EL Whitwell, E. Smallfield, Morrisbn, P. Buttison, N. Torr, E. Cowdrey, Mrs Senior, and Mi’s Buttison. ■. Mr Harris, welcomed those present and explained the necessity of having a local organisation to deal with local matters. It was very necessary to have such' a body to push the district - ahead. Constructive criticism of an ' impersonal nature was desired. .THE POST OFFICE. The president said that it waft scandalous! to see. that .the postmistress was jstill working in such an office. ■lt was understood that the old Ngatea post office building, was available, and ■ pressure should be to bear, to " have the building shifted „.as soon, as possible. , In, reply .to Mr Mclnnes Mr Hewitt said that he had had correspondence -intimating that the department had definitely allotted the Ngatea building to Kaihere.-. At .this Stage it became evident that the a subject was a, contentious —one. A personal question was .asked, but before it was .answered it was suggested that .those present who intended becoming members of. the association sttbuld intimate their inten-tion;-This was done and. a large number jvere made /members. ■Mr J. E- Davies, contended that the meeting had been called under false pretences. The post office question was one for .the general public, and nOb for ratepayers only. ' , In reply to Mr H. Walton the chairman stated, that Mr T. W. Rhoden, M.P., had declined to make a defin<ite statement as-to .the site of the ■ post office. If it-was to be in the Ohinemuri electorate the member for that'electorate should be approached. Mr T. Lynch thought the controversy that had taken place should end. 1 He moved that 'the association approach the Post and Telegraph Department and ask. that the building at preisent' at Ngatea be shifted to the present post office site ,near, the school. „ • . . , Mr Reiddy suggested asking .the department to decide which site the . office should be placed upon. He fav- - cured the present site, and pointed • out that if the other site on. Nghrua Road, was selected the attendance at ‘.the school was likely to be affected by the, diversion of the Mangawhero pupils, to Patetonga, and thus there was the chance of losing one teacher. He moved in the direction of securing an/arbitrator. , Mr Lynch’s motion did' not find a seconder, and Mr Mclnnes seconded Mr Reiddy’s motion. Mr Lynch . moved, and Mr Kersey - seconded, an amendment to the effect that the association should express the definite opinion that; the present site be utilised. Much argument ensued, particularly between Mr J. E. Davies and the rest of those present, and it was pointed out . that - the, subject had been wrangled over for eleven years., -..Mr Lynch and his supporters opposed leaving the matters to an arbitrator, as he might select a site that, was. not acceptable to the majority of the settlers. . It would be better to have a definite opinion.., The amendment was then put and - defeated 1 by 8 votes to 4. - The motion was then put and carried oy 8 votes to 1. There were 24 persons, present. ■ . - DRAINAGE RATES. The president brought up the ques’tidn of the increase of the Government drainage rates. He understood that there 'was- no limit to the amount that could be struck. Mr.H. Walton pointed out .that if the area north of Ngatea formed a drainage board there was the great possibility pf the rates being increased. Mr Harris observed that the Government were spending the. greater . part of their money in the lower parts of the Plains.' Mr Mclnnes said that the settlers were in the dark respecting the 'matter. He asked if it would not be better to'take steps to ascertain the position. ' ' ' Mr Reiddy mentioned that the action of the Government in opening up the pastoral and flooded lands' for flax production would probably enable the Government to. give the established settlers • more .attention. He understood that negotiations were under " way to lease big areas; to a flax syndicate, which,would take over the whole of the drainage and reading of the areas concerned. ' It was decided that the executive of the association be empowered to appoint 'a deputation to seek information concerning the whole position from the lands, drainage engineer. / VALUATIONS. .. Thg question of valuations and rating was explained, and a suggestion to approach .the land valuer was dropped, it being agreed that the whole position might be changed when the work of revaluation was completed. METALLING OF ROADS. .Matters concerning an improvement in . the roads of the district were next .brought up, and it was agreed that the difficulty was one of money. Several speakers .stressed the need of a grader, and set of discs in the district. In reply to a question .tjhe chairman said that Cr. McLoughlin, ,the riding member, had not been specially invited to attend the meeting as it was thought that the general, invitation would have been sufficient. Cr. McLoughlin happened to be out of the district at present. : It was decided .that the riding representative be invited to the next meeting, which would be held in the Kaihere Hall at 8 p.m. on Monday . next. -