CONFERENCE AT TURUA.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4966, 26 April 1926, Page 3

CONFERENCE AT TURUA.

QUESTION OF REPRESENTATION. HARBOUR BOARD’S RESTRICTIONS Representatives of the Thames Ha.rbour .Board, Turua Town Board, a f nd .the Hauraki Plainis County Council met at Turua an Friday morning to discuss the vexed question of the blockage of the metal punt berthage near the Turua wharf by the Harbour Board, and, as was anticipated, the meeting was somewhat stormy. At its last mete ting the Haybour Board appointed its chairman, Mr Coulter, its engineer, Mr 0. F. Adams, its (secretary, Mr Sanders;, and the two representatives! of the. combined counties, Me-srs D. G. McMillan and S. J. Laughlin, to meet the chairman of the Turua Town Board. The Town Board decided that Mr J. T. Davies sjiould al.so accompany the chairman, Mr J. Mules, while the Hauraki Plains County Council also decided to be represented and appointed its chairman, Cr. J. C. Miller, the Turua riding representative, Mr W, Madgwick, and the engineer, Mr F. Basham. With the ejxce,ption of Ml- Basham all these gentlemen were present, but when they had assembled at the Turua Buildings Mi- Coulter took the; chair and'announced that he and his party httd be&n appointed-, to meet the chairman, of the; Town Boa,rd alone-. A request had been received that the representatives, of the County Council should be admitted td the conference, and while he could not agree that this was in order he would agree to meet-Cr. J. O. Miller. Mr Mules pointed out that Cr. Madgwick represented the Turua and Horahia ridings of the county, and thereby tire settlers ’ who were the most interested in the ma,tter, as it was the -metalling of their roads; that was affected. i Cr. Madgwick said that he had been deputed by the County Council to meet the Harbour Board, As the, chairman of the Harbour Board refused to meet him- he would withdraw. Mr S. J. Laughlin made a plea, for the other iheai to remain. Mr Coulter said that the discussion must, be Limited. . ‘ Mr McMillan protested strongly at the chairman’s ruling, apd said that as a protest he-would retire from the conference. Mr Coulter pointed out that theHarbour Board had appointed- Messrs McMillan and La,ughlin to be present. ■ Mr Mules, said that the Town Board had been notified that Mr Coulter, the engineer, and the secretary would represent the Harbour; Board. Mr Coulter wa,s now trying to bring in the other two members. Mr Coulter again delivered his ultimatum, and s,aid that was, the beginning and the end of the matter. Messrs Madgwick, McMillan, and Davies, then left the room.

Mr D. G. McMillan expressed. the; opinion that there should be no quibbling as to who should be present The County Council was vitally, interested and should be . represented. He hoped the conference would be an amica,ble one, and that a solution acceptable to all. parties, would be arrived at. It had no,t occurred to him at' the Harbour Board meeting that the county was concerned, otherwise he would have had it invited to be represented. He would strongly advocate that Crs. Miller and Madgwick be allowed to be present. , . Mr S. J. Laughlin supported this. Mr J. T. Davies (Town Boa,rd) said that he would retire'if not required. Mr Coulter observed that the chairman of the Town Boa,rd was present. Mr Davies said that. ,the Town Board had not thought it fair for the Harbour Board to send, its chairman reinforced by the engineer, secretary, and two other'm'ambeiis to meet the chairman of the Town Boa,rd. Mr Coulter said that the Harbour Board had arranged to meet the chairman of the Town Board/ and. n.ow he had agreed to meet Cr. Miller also. He thought that was quite sufficient. He did not object to the others being present, but would rule tha 4 t they must not take part in the discussion. Mr McMillan asked if the Harbour Board had the power to' dictate wha,t representatives of another local body its committee would meet.- He thought it was for. the other local bodies to nominate their own. representatives. . • Mr Coulter’said that it would have been quite .all right if the Harbour Board had been notified. He, did not detsire to be harsh, but was determined to be definite and would rule that only the two chairmen would be a.llowed“to take part. Mr Laughlin made another plea that they should be admitted, but without avail, ajnd.he also left. ' Asked his opinion by Mr Mules Cr. Miller said that he regretted the others were not admitted to the conference. He felt .that no harm would be done by allowing them to remain. He felt. sorry the Harboiuf Board members had left,' as he ha,d anticipated that the conference would have been conducted in a friendly' manner, and*that there would not have b&qn any wrangling. Mr Coulter a,bso expressed regret that the members of the Harbour Bo,ard had left, as they were the representatives of the settlors concerned. •