RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 186, 14 April 1914, Page 2

RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

A Quiet Meeting.

A heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening probabiy alfected the atten-

dance at the meeting of tho l'ukckohe Ratepayers' Association field in the Oddfellows' Hull. In ilc absence of tho president, Mr It. ii. Andrew occupied the chair. At 1') minut's past there were only 10 persona prrs:nt, but b.-f re tf.o m?etir,g wjs owr the number had grown to 21. The members present wera Messrs Andrew, Risscll, Lodge, Dell. M, Routlr>y, Ma on, Luster, Stcnhensoii. Mills and Mcl.'a-. 'J lie others, it was understood, wera nonmembers,

Mr Andrew very lully explained the objects of the Association, he set ojt fairly the steps thai h*d beei taken to date, enlarged upon the goo I that the Association might do, and read tho rules. He deprecated any imirte versus outside feeling and said it was a pity to have two cliques, They were very often in the po ition of critics but if tho ratepayers hod tno opportunity of healing the Council's reasons for certain actions then the ratepayers might agree with them. This Association should bo the recruiting ground for candidates for stats on the Council. It was not to be the policy of the Association ti bind candidates who when elected would have a free hand to vote for ths good of the borough as a whole. This Association , he said, arose qaite accidentally out of a meeting cilled to discuss the drainage proposals; it wbs a great pity that the subsequent meeting had not been advartised, but he did nor think that would have mads any differ ones to the formation cf the Ratepayers' Associ-

ation or to tne position as it stood at present. The clnirmnn then invited any who desired to join, after *

which the meeting proceeded to busing.

Mr Andrew said the executive recommended that the Association do not go any further with the drainage scheme ot present, snd until they had aonu definite advico when the objectiona to the rating area would be heard.

Touching tl.e Fire Brigade loan, Mr Andrew said the ixecutivc decided to recommend to ratepayers that tip loan u( £7OO be carried.

Tin i Sea waa to erect a lire-station sufficiently big to accommodate the plant and to house two men, and to prcvide extra hose, Tidings and contingencies At the present time the brigade was not not sufficiently equipped. The whole borough would bear t're coat of the loan. It was the duty of tie people of Pukokohe to carry the loan so as to present any possible disaster. He moved, That this meeting approve the loun.

This was se:onded by Mr Russell and carried.

Mr Mason said he presumed that the Council were making arrangements to administer the affairs of the brigade. Mr Andrew said the boot was on the other foot. They had a brigade that wai anxious to do good work; if he had been a member of the brigade he would have resigned long ngn.

Mr Mason said he did not intend to cast any reflections. Referring to the proposed loan to purchase House's bush, Mr Andrew said this proposal waa not regarded favourably by the executive.

Mr Russell raid he did not think they should borrow any more money except f<Jr roads. Tbc Council had pot a recreation ground and had put an iron shed and stables upon it.

There whs the town hall site, Riven by Mr Kennedy a« a town hall site, which had an iron shed upon it and he was afraid if tho Council got Rooae'a buah they would put an iron shed on it, too. Lonna lor roads, ha said, should come before anything c 1 se.

It was decided that the matter stand over until there waa a bigger meeting of the Asjociatiou. The next business was the selection of candidates for the forthcom-

ing municipal elections. The executive recommended that Mr Patterson contest the Mayoralty and that Messrs Andrew and Mason content the seats on the Council. Referring to (119 Mayoralty, Mr Andrew said that the general feeling of the Association was in favour of Mr Barter, but that gentleman would not stand in opposition to Mr Laurie. Tho only other name suggested waa Mr Patterson's, and it wan decided to leave the mailer to this meeting. Mr Matthe-v Koutlcy did not think it would be wise for the Association to lecommend anybody. If they stood, will and gjed, but let them go to the b3llot on their own merits.

There was n3 seconder Ij Mr Routlej's suggestion, and the meeting adopted the committee*! recommendations.

Mr A. t. Wilkinson, who arrived after the chairman had mudc his explanation, wanted to know all about the formation of the Association, saying that the people had a ritfht to know* It was explained that this was now a meeting of tho Ratepayers' Association, that the public exolanations had Iktii made, and Mr Wilkinson was promised all tho information he desired at the close of