Write in and be counted

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 327, 13 March 1990, Page 4

Write in and be counted

With reference to the proposed new $3.8 million Council building which is planned to be built in Palmerston

North by the newly formed Manawatu- Wanganui Regional Council, of which our Ruapehu District is part, I

wish to draw attention to ratepayers in this area that if this is approved it will be YOU who will have to help pay for it. This proposal is going to be subject to confirmation by council at the Ordinary Meeting to be held on Tuesday 24 April, 1990. If this proposal is passed at the meeting on 20 March and then goes to the meeting of 24 April for confirmation then a poll of ratepayers will be required to be taken BUT ONLY if FIFTEEN PER CENT (15%) of ratepayers in the Man-awatu-Wanganui region so demand in writing under their own hands and delivered or sent by post to the ManawatuWanganui Regional Council and received not later than 9am on the day of the confirming meeting. This very important matter affects all ratepayers. Ruapehu District Council representatives in Taumarunui are concerned and the vote has split the Council on whether to agree with the proposal or not. It is up to us in this area to get off our butts and write to either Mr Steel or Mr Middleton at Taumarunui as the Council's representatives for further information if you are not sure what it is all about. It is only going to be your letters that will help force a poll on this very important issue, its no good waiting for it to happen and then grizzle when you

have a big rate increase, so do it now and get those letters of disapproval in. I understand that some buildings in the Manawatu area are being"just walked out of" and goodness knows we have enough empty buildings around the place now. Surely this Regional Council can make do and save money especially in the very early stages of their newly formed Council. I agree with Chas Poynter, Wanganui Mayor, that the Regional Council should look for temporary ac- ' commodation in the meantime until they get under way without committing ratepayers to this $3.8 million debt to the ratepayers. Who knows, they might enjoy having to put up with cramped meeting rooms like a lot of others have to put up with in their course of work. Come on ratepayers from this area, do something positive for once and object to this proposed loan. You can post your objections direct to MANAWATU - WANGANUI REGIONAL COUNCIL, Private Bag, Palmerston North or if you wish further information first, write to the two gentlemen above at Taumarunui. But whoever, DO IT NOW. Faith Wise Raetihi Both Ways Help Through your paper I would like to raise a

small matter that has ,been bugging me for some time. I was originally going to write to the person and the organisation involved but then realised it is happening with other groups as well. The matter is that of donations, discounts and specialised goods that we are asked for by various non-profit organisations throughout the Waimarino. As far as I can remember we

have never refused to help any of these groups as we have need of them ourselves as our children have grown up. What is really starting to get under my skin is the way we are being asked and treated by some of these committee members at the moment. To be told that they can get it cheaper out of town, or they moan when we are unable to get an item we don't normally stock

and then say they should have bought it in another town when they purchased the rest of the items, is starting to get a bit hard to take. I would suggest that all committee members rethink their approach to any business when asking for a donation. Mention how the business will benefit from that donation etc. A final personal note - I was ready to stop any further donations, discounts and credit from this group because of one person, who will move on from that organisation once their children grow up, which would have meant that future committees would have suffered because of one person, but my wife talked me out of it. We all need these groups and I guess all businesses support them, but the businesses in the Waimarino also need their support. What I am trying to get across is help is a two-way thing. Alan Murdie New World Ohakune Swim Thanks As a parcnt of two children attending Raetihi Primary School, I wish to express my sincere appreciation to the Raetihi Swimming Club pcrsonnel who have given so frcely of their valuable time to assist teachers with learn to swim and coaching for pupils during school hours, almost every day ovcr the past months. I am well aware of the need for all children to learn to swim and to have water safety skills from an early age, especially in this wonderful varied Waimarino sporting environment. Thank you again, on bchalf of all the parents whose children have gained some benefit. Some of us are a little shy to express our gratitude to the caring and sharing people in this community. Swimmcr's Mum