THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1908. TOWNSHIPS CONFERENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume II, Issue 96, 21 August 1908, Page 2

THE KING COUNTRY CHRONICLE. FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 1908. TOWNSHIPS CONFERENCE.

THE recent conference of delegates from Taumarimui, Te Knit; and Otorohauga was a iunction of considerable importance irom the fact that it dealt with a question affecting the progress oi tiio whole district. It was of still greater importance in another sense, inasmuch as it marked the first occasion upon which the chief King Country centres had co-operated for their join: and several interests. A notable lea- j ture of the conference was ihe i hearty manner in which a!i the | delegates were able to sink the j smaller interests and combine j unanimously in the effort to j formulate on the j broadest possibls basis log ine ' general welfare. The position j admittedly presented great diiii- j cultics, from the fact that while j the laws governing the townships j hitherto have been proved inad- j quale, they have been worked j under up to a certain pomv. j Vested interests have been created and bargains made in all good faith, and in order to con-; serve the interests of all concerned the utmost care had to_ be ! taken that recommendations, dor j and equitable to a!! parties should j be made. Naturally, compromises j had to made, and individual in- j te rests disregarded to a certain j extent in arriving at a workable scheme, and the fact that the resolutions passed are somewhat lacking in detail should cause no surprise. Rather is it a striking commentary on the Government's action in hastily promising remi-. dial legislation without first dis- i covering the difficulties which : surround the question. There is j little doubt that the resolutions |

passed will meet with general approval. The dominant, note at the conference was the claim' that the townships should be placed on an equal footing with other centres in respect to the ability to finance for public purposes, and in asking for the opportunity to progress on constitutional lines is the least that can be demanded. It may be contended that in requesting fresh conditions to their leases the lessees are abrogating their agreement and the leases should be submitted again for competition. Obviously such a condition is against all the traditions of equity upon which the civilised laws are based. . The leases were taken up under conditions which were intended to provide for all reasonable progress on similar lines to ordinary townships. After a bona fide attempt to work under the conditions provided it has been found necessary to apply for an alteration. Whatever is lacking in the original conditions is manifestly the fault of the Legislature and in applying to the Government to remedy matters the parties interested are" adopting the only possible course. No extravagant demands are made, and the leaseholders are entitled to be protected to the fullest extent in any amending legislation which may be introduced. An important feature, and one which appealed strongly to , the delegates, was the possibility of action being deferred in the matter until next session. It was therefore decided to appoint delegates to proceed to Wellington at the earliest possible opportunity to place the recommendations before the Government and urge the importance of immediate action. It is to be hoped this resolution will be carried into effect without delay. The pre-election session is notorious for simply marking time and doing nothing definite. It is highly undesirable that this characteristic should be allowed to influence the progress of our district at the present moment. The township matters which require immediate attention, are legion. A year's delay means another year behind the march of progress. Every sort of interest spurs us on to action and we shall be deserving of less consideration than we receive if we neglect the present opportunity.