MOA COUNTY BILL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXVIII, Issue 19, 21 September 1915, Page 7

MOA COUNTY BILL.

kkluhii - in mo House to-night Mr. J. B. time (stratum!) moved Uie second reading oi me Moa County Kill, lie said mat me -uucaj Kills Committee nad reported adversely on the Kill, on the ground that tire time had arrived when no additional counties should he created. He did nut think the committee was entitled to dictate in a matter oi policy, and he intended to test the loelmg ol the House on the subject. The proposed -Vioa County was closely populated and progressive, and it had a capital value ol idiUjUOU, so that revenue was available, and its present governing body (the Moa Hoad Board) was not willing to merge in the Taranaki County. Many existing counties had a smaller capital value, and he hoped the House would let the Moa County come into existence.

The Minister for Internal Affairs (Hon, G. W. Jiussell) opposed the Bill. He said the Local Bills Committee had not reported against the Bill on the grounds of policy. It had studied the proposal carefully, had heard both sides, and had decided then that the Bill ought not to proceed. It had held that the Taranaki County should not be dismembered oy the creation of the Moa Road District into a county. The Taranaki County was a strong one, and its admiration had given general satisfaction, except to a certain portion ol

the Moa County. He did not think the Government should he asked at the present juncture to pay additional subsidies to a new county. Mr i Russel] assured the House that the Local Bills Committee had done its work thoroughly and conscientiously, and ho regretted the absence of Mr Pearce (Patea), chairman of the committee.

Mr Hi Okey (Taranaki) said that Mr Hine had taken an unusual course in asking the House to go behind the judgment of the Local Bills Committee, The duty of the House was to support the committee. Th© passing of 'the Bill would put the Taranaki County in a very , awkward position. Tt had spent a large sum on plant I for road making and maintenance, and its roads were exceptionally good. The roads in th© Moa Road I District, on the other hand, were not j good, and the separation now asked i j for was not in the interests of anyj body. Other road districts had meri ged into the county with advantage, j The Prime Minister said the Tara~ j

naki County was one of the most progressive iu the Dominion, and its roads wore particularly good. He suggested that in the absence of the Chairman of the Local Bills Committee tho Bill should be given its second reading that night, and then the division could be taken at a later stage. After Mr Mine had replied briefly, the Bill was read a second time on the voices.