ACCLIMATISATION BOUNDARIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 374, 1 July 1911, Page 5

ACCLIMATISATION BOUNDARIES.

AUCKLAND v. WAIKATO. A lively three-quarters of an hour was spent at a meeting, held this week in the rooms of the. Auckland Acclimatisation Society. Ostensibly it was a conference between delegates "from the Waikato Acclimatisation Society and the council of the Auckland Socitey. Actually, it resolved itself into a demand from the visitors for a large proportion of the territory at present under the control of the Auckland Society, and a decided refusal to discuss the question of boundaries without reasons being given for the proposed alteration". Major Hazard presided and in opening the proceedings said they had met at the request of the Waikato Society for the purpose of meeting delegates from that body. < He understood that the Hon. Mr Buddo had intimated to the Waikato Society his desire that the bodies should confer on the question of the proposed boundaries but the Minister had not intimated his wish to the Auckland Society.

Mr Reynolds, President of the Waikato Society, said it was merely a question of the boundaries they proposed to discuss. They would like to know what boundary the "Auckland Society suggested as suitable between the two societies. They - hoped to arrive at an amicable arrangement. Mr F. Earl argued that as the Waikato people were responsible for the movement, the first proposals as* to boundaries should come from tbem. Tbo Auckland Society naturally wanted to retain its present boundaries. Mr Buckland, of the Waikato Society, said 'the two societies started level, and suggested Auckland might state what it was prepared to agree to. The Chairman said Auckland Society was a reigstered body, and naturally wished to keep the lot. The Waikato Society was not registered, and wished to take Auckland's territory without submitting any reasons.

Mr C. A. Whitney: We are not here to gii?e- reasons; the Minister has our reasons. Mr Buckland said the Minister was prepared to register the Waikato Society, and Mr Buddo was the judge as to reasons. They were prepared to nama the counties they wished to control, and which the Minister Was prepared to grant. He understood they had come to town to meet an equal number of delegates from the Auckland Council merely tO'go into the question of boundaries, as suggested by the Minister.

Mr Wade suggested the delegates should lay their proposals before the Council.

,Mr Whitney said this was a conference of two societies to discuss the boundary question. They had come for a definite purpose as suggested by the Minister. Mr Earl said; they were prepared to hear what tha Waikato Society had to propose, what they wanted, and why they wanted it. lie wanted to bear why any part of the Auckland Soejet'ys territory should be taken. They could not expect the Auckland Society to offer tb give up territory without reasons.- /

Mr Buckland said they had given reasonf to the Minister,, to whom thuy had siibmitted a list of counties which tney r wished to bavp, and which,they were going to have* The Chairman-: "Do you wish us to take your word for that? Mr Buckland: IJaveyou had no noti fication to that effect? Chairman i No. Mr Buckland: Do you wish me to take your word for that? Mr Whitney: Will the Chairman withdraw those wotds of his?

Chairman It was not done with any intention of challenging Mr Buckland's word, but surely you have some document we should see.

- Mr Buckland: I don't wish you to withdraw; Mr Chairman, but as you challenged my statement, I simply did the same with you. We have come here to define boundaries, and you ask for reasons. Mr Earl: Will you tell us the territory you want? Mr Reynolds: Ohinemuri, Waikato, Matamata, Waipa, Thames, Waitomo, Kawhia, Raglan, Awakino and Ohura Counties, and the northern half of West Taupo County from the Waihorra stream to the opposite corner of the boundary. Mr Wade: Take the other three counties, and you have the lot. Mr Earl: Does your request include our hatchery at Matamata? Mr Whitney: That is in the Rotorua district.

The Chairman said the hatchery waß in the Piako County, and referred to an old map on the wall to prove his contention.

Mr Whitney said this .showed a certain amount of ignorance as to the Auckland Society's affairs, because the counties map of the present day showed the hatchery tn be in the Matamata County.

Mr Earl said the Waikato Society proposed to take the best part of Auckland's territory. He thought reasons should be given why, for instance, it was proposed to take their hatchery. Mr Buckland said if they went into reasons it would mean a long job. Mr Reynolds said they had-not the slightest intention of interfering with Auckland's hatchery. Mr Earl: That is very good'of you; I don't think you would be allowed to if you did wish it. Mr Reynolds: There was no need for saying that, Mr Earl. We have no intention of touching it All we ask is what boundary line will suit the Auckland Society? '' Mr Whitney pbinted out that unless some amicable arrangement was arrived at it would mean expense to both societies, and also to the Government, as a Royal Commission would have to be appointed to define the boundaries. Chairman: We simply say we wish to retain all our territory .-unless valid reasons are given why tiny should be taken from us. ' '

Mr Buckland: We did nat come to ,discuss reasbns. We came to settle boundaries. Is your association prepared to give us any territory? Mr Earl said the Waikato proposal would simply leave Auckland with territory from which no revenue could be derived. It would bo futile to discuss such a scheme. - Mr Reynolds:. On behalf of my society. I am prepared to give Auckland Thames and Raglan Counties from those I named,' but we can go no further than that to meet you. Will Auckland Society agree to that proposal,?^ Mr' Wade: That is very generous, you have no territory to give; you are not even a registered society yet. You propose to give us what is now under our control.

Mr Grayson suggested that it was unfair for reasons to be given to the Minister, and, refused to the society interested.

Mr Whitney said the Minister had also received Auckland's reason, so Had both sides to judge upon. .

Mr Buckland said they had a letter from 1 the Secretary of the Auckland Society stating they were willing to meet delegates from tye Waikato to confer re boundaries. Mr Earl Baid the delegates should submit reasons for any transfer of territory proposed, and cbe matter should bo discussed. He took it that that was what the Minister meant by sugges ting a conference. Mr Whitney: How do you know?

Mr Earl: Because it is common.sense. A conference must discuss reasons.

Mr Buckland said he would give one reason —700 members of the Waikato Societty signed a petition to his Excellency the Governor to register the : twelve counties as a society. He also claimed that the Auckland Society had failed in its duty in acclimatisation work, that was another very valid reason. He now asked if Auckland was prepared {ogive Waikato any territory at aIU Mr Earl: Yes, if you give satisfactory reasons why we should do so. Mr Buckland: Are you prepared to give any territory? Mi Earl: I think we are, but we must discuss each county seriatim. Mr Buckland: State one county you are prepared to give. The Chairman (laughing): Cambridge. Mr Whitney: That shows the Chairman's ignorance—Cambridge is not a county, but a town. Mr Earl: Will you kindly behave as people are supposed to behave in public meetings? If the Chairman is to be accused of ignorance this meeting had better be closed at once. Mr Buckland: The Chairman's remark was frivolous and should not have been made when such an important question was under discussion. We all thoroughly understand the reasons for the Waikato Society beingformed. Why waste further time upon that matter? We have come a long distance aqd ask to be treated fairly.; 1 Thp Minister is prepared to register our The Chairman: We do not know that. v

Mr Buckland: We have given you three reasons cannot we come to something definite? That you have failed in the work of acclimatisation is a strong reason. Mr Earl: That is not reason but abuse.

Mr Buckland. asked for an expression of opinion'from the members of the Council. : r-~.'

Mr Earl: "That as the Waikato Society refuses to discuss or place before the Council any reasons for its wishing to appropriate a very large portion of the territory now administered by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, this Society sees no alternative; but to ask the Minister to appoint a Commission to go into the whole matter."

This was seconded by Mr Wade and agreed to by the members of te Auckland Council.

-Mr Buckldnd said the first part of the resolution distorted facts.' Mr Moorhouse: "I thank and added that he iaiid his society were strong opponents'of the Waikato movement and that he had made that quite plain MrE arl: You have refused to discuss or place before the Council any reasons.

Mr Reynolds asked for a resolution of the members upon Waikato's proposal in view of the fact that Raglan and Thames bad been added to what was allotted to Auckland'. The Chairman said the motion already covered that. Mr Reynolds: Then I ask the press to record our protest against the resolution on the gtbund that we have given reasons —viz., petitions to bis Excellency the Governor by 700 members, and that the Auckland Acclimatraaton Society had failed in its duties as an Acclimatisation Society. On behalf of my society, I may say we are willing to work amicably with you at all times, and will only be too pleased to help, you in any way we can. Good night, gentlemen. The conference then terminated amidst a general shout of "Good night" from both sides. The Auckland Council at once telegraphed to the Hon. Buddo the motion it had adopted.