Reducing Awhitu Riding.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 199, 29 May 1914, Page 1

Reducing Awhitu Riding.

[TO THE EDITOR]. Sir,—Since my former letter appeared on this subject, I have carefully each copy of the "Times" in the hope of reading a few words of commendation from Cr Renall for drawing his attention to a few of his delinquencies. Imagine my dißßppontmtnt to read a letter signed J. A. Renall accusing me of making statements which are untrue and misleading. Now, I candidly admit that by not writing legibly I have made Hunua's valuation to appear as £10,659 instead of £106,591 as it should be. Any other statements I made I am prepared to defecd. The following is a list of the ridings with their respective rateable values £. Awhitu 140,878 Drury 264,622 Hunua 106,591 Mauku 348,891 Mercer 154,248 Pukekoho 460,627 Waiuku 280,441 Waipipi 232,948 Total 1,989,347 The above figures have not been made to order but are copied from the blue book issued May, 1913, and 1 am content to leave it with the enlightened readers of the "limes to decide whether they will accept statistics as compiled by John Mackay, Government printer, or J. A. Renall. County Councillor. Still, there are exceptional csees in which a man possessed of most extraordinary intelligence will take up an erroneous idea as, for instance, when the Council had under consideration the petition to increase the councillors to 12. Cr Renall, addressing the Council, and speaking as one endowed with the attributes of an oracle, declared that by granting the request of the petitioners it would extend his riding to the other side of Waiuku township. Which practically means that the twelfth part of the county is greater than the ninth. Mr Renall states that when representation is altered the ridings must be made equal in value. For Mr Retail's information I reter him to clause 25 of the Counties Act, which says that in re-adjusting the ridings the representation of the ridings shall, as far as possible, be proportioned to the rateable value and number of electors. Statistics set down the total assessments of the county at 3825. Seeing the county has sgrecd to exclude the Town Boards from county rates it follows that they are excluded from the

franchise. I can only give an estimate of what should be deducted for Town Boards, but do not think 1200 excessive, which would bring the total down to 2625, giving a quota for each of the nine ridings of 292. Awhitu's assessments are set down at 385, bo that 93 electors could be taken from Awhitu riding and added to some of the others. And if the several Town Boards' rateable value were deducted from the county value, and Awhitu credited with the valuation just completed, which will bring it up to nearly £300,000, giving us an excess in area valuation and electors. As for no official information being available regarding the new valuation, an approximate total could no doubt have been obtained by applying to the valuator, and in view of the county elections which are due next November, and considering that readjustments of ridings are in the ordinary sense a fixture for the ney.t three years, no effort should have been spared. Cr Renall s conservatism and every other obstacle should have been placed on one side and the ridings with their representation placed on a fair and equitable basis. Cr Kenall boasts of being able to give all information in connection with Road Boards prior to the county coming into force. It would serve a much more useful purpose and be of more interest to the ratepayers if he gave information in connection with himself and his riding during the last twelve months. I must confess it is rather galling, after waiting month after month wondering when the Council is going to begin work on Follok road, to be callously told there is a grader and scoop in the riding ready for work when funds are available. I see Cr Kenall has instructed the County Clerk to write Awhitu Road Board clerk requesting

a list of all rateable properties in Awhitu road district so that he can send a remittance for the amount due them, and if Cr Renal I can remit to Awhitu road district nearly

£2OO with his riding balance showing a debit of £36 lOa 10d, all 1 have got to say is that he would make an excellent Minister of Finance in a Payne-Renall Cabinet, I would have liked to have dealt with the mare's nest discovered by Cr Renall in Awhitu Road Board and other matters contained in his letter, but fear I am trespassing on the good nature of the Editor. So trusting that Cr Kenall will accept the above remarks in the same kindly spirit in which they are given, and remember that the reproof of a friend is better than the (lattery of an enemy, I am, etc., JOHN C. HAMILTON.