Piako Ratepayers’ Reform Association.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXII, Issue 42768, 22 August 1905, Page 2

Piako Ratepayers’ Reform Association.

ANNUAL MEETING,

The Annual meeting of the Piako Ratepiyers’ Reform Association was held in the Waitoa school on Saturday evening last. A large number of members were present. Mr R. C. Allen took the ebair. The proposed rules and programme of the Association were then read as follows -~~ Namk —The name of the Association shall be the “ Piako Ratepayers’ Reform Associa--oeject —The object of the Association is to exercise vigilance and bring public opinion to bear upon all matters affecting the welfare of the district, and to select and assist in the return of candidates pledged to support the programme of the Association. Rule i—That no person he admitted a member unless a bona-fide ratepayer in the Piako County. . . . Xl— That aach ratepayer on joining signifies his willingness (by signing a counter foil in Receipt Book) to uphold the Rules and Programme of the Association, in —That the Executive Committee be elected by the Annual Meeting to be held in the Waitoa School, each branch to appoint s) three members to the Executive; five, inclusive of Chairman and Secretary, to form a quorum. . ~ , r/—The Annual Subscription payable by each Member to he ‘2s (two shillings) v— That the Executive be empowered on a three-fourths (f) majority to expel any member who in their opinion violates any rule of tlie Association. vi— That any member of the Executive absenting himself from three (.3) consecutive meetings forfeits his seat on the Exeentive Committee, provided he has not applied to the Chairman for leave of absence. . vn—That in the case of any member ot the Executive Committee resigning or otherwise forfeiting his seat, the branch which he represents shall call a special meeting for the pui-pose of filling the vacancy so caused. That should any of the resolutions already in the Minute Book clash with any of the foregoing rules, etc., the former resolutions shall he rendered inoperative. R. C. Allen. Robt. A. Larney, Chairman P. R. R. A, Secretary. Programme. i “ The suspension of “ The Counties’ Act” in the Waitia Road Board District.” ii "To oppose all candidates holding dual positions on the County Council and Waitoa Road Board.” hi ‘ ‘ The keeping of separate Riding accounts by the Local Bodies to ensure the just expenditure of rates in the district in which they are collected.” iv “ The sale of County horses, the adoption of Contract System and carrying out the works under efficient and economical administration.” R. C. Allen, Chairman P. R. R. A. Robt. A. Larney, Secretary. These were adopted as they stand. It was suggested that before proceeding, the Separate Riding Account System should be explained for the benefit of new members. Mr Lamey said that the idea of the Association was to have their rates spent within their own riding: there was an idea amongst some settlers that the Riding System meant the spending of each man’s rates opposite his own gate, but that was a mistaken idea. The method was to spend money within the riding as the Read Board do at present, and that rates collected at one end of the riding could be spent at the other end. The idea was to keep the rates in check wherever they were collected. If allowed, he would read them a few notes on the business which caused a certain amount of undercurrent and friction at the Council Meeting last Thursday. “lam fond of fair play and I certainly don’t like sitting by and seeing things not done as they should be,” said Mr Larney, and proceeding read. " Eor five years prior to 31st March, 1904, Te Aroha collected £BO4 total amount of rates. This sum amounts to £l6O 16s per year or £3 per week. During the same period To Aroha has spent a total of £2,074, or £1,422 more than she contributed in rates. This works out at £284,8s per year, or £5 l'Os per week expenditure in excess of income.”

Total weekly expenditure £8 10 1 Mr Lamey said that the other day in bringing the matter before the Council he met with a good deal of opposition and unpleasantr ness. “ Some of you ratepayers with time to spare should attend some of those Council meetings: it is beyond the power of one representative to do a “great deal. We were told that the Association was getting out of hand, and on speaking further I was very rudely answered. I introduce the motion for the adoption of the Separate Riding Account system at the next meeting, hut I only fear that it will not he adopted; hut I think every honest man would be glad to see this adopted. . . . Mr Lamey said that two months ago Mr Bellamy proposed that the county horses ho sold —Foreman Johnson has said that keeping the horses is too expeusive as he had to stable them and neglect other duties to attend to them. At the last Council meeting Mr Bellamy was met with the statement that it was necessary to give notice of motion in writing some time before the meeting, to each councillor, the Chairman, as usual, quoting his acts, statutes, etc., with the result that the motion was staved off for another month. “ I say why should this kind of thing he allowed ?”

Mr Bellamy: When that chairman is there it' seems that no one else knows anything about geography, statutes, etc, A Member: I have watchod the notice-of-motion, and it seems Mr Bellamy doesn’t know much about the statutes as he didn’t tell the clerk to serve notice of motion. If he knew, why didn’t he do it P Mr Larney: The Chairman said he must comply with the statute of the Act. Mr McGloiu : Our Secretary wrote aud I see that his letter was treated ignominiously. I was pleased to see that we were hitting sore points. I don’t think that we can do marvels until the next election eomes. Mr Larney : I being your servant will do my best for you all with the Council. Mr Allen: Mr Me is a trained lawyer and says Mr Bellamy’s motion should

have been put to the meeting, and that the last business was perfect humbug. A Member : It lay with the Clerk for not giving notice. Mr Allen: The Clerk stated that Mr Bollamy’s motion was in order. Mr S. Bellamy : I think the Clerk would have been right in giving ten days’ notice. Mr Allen: I understand all the Council had one month’s notice. I think it is sufficient to give notice of motion at the meeting. I never heard of the Clerk having to give" notice) as the Councillors are supposed to be present at the meeting when the [motion is moved. It appears as though the Chairman was merely j trying to block the business. Chairman : I don’t think wc can gain anything by discussing the legal point any further. Mr McGloin : A good many hardly understand the Separate Riding Account System ; I think it would he a good idea if it were exnlaiued. C bail-man : We have letters from different places where the system has been tried, and I may say that wherever it Ims been introduced letters in answer to our correspondence give most satisfactory reports indeed. A letter received from the Taranaki County Clerk read as follows : The Secretary, P.R.R.A. Dear Sir, — In reply to your letter of the 30th ult., I ami, directed to inform you that it fit ounaitleKxl- j

beneficial to beep Separate Riding Accounts. The practice has been in force here for many years past, and for your information I will enclose copy of one of my Riding account sheets which will speak for itself. These sheets (one for each Riding) are placed on tho table every monthiy meeting, and the Councillors can see at a glace how their financial pofition stands, viz. Amount Allocated Amount Spent Liabilities Incurred And Balance (if any) available. Yours, etc., C. T. Mills, Clerk. A similar letter had been received from the County Clerk of Waipa, and this was read. Chairman: You see, gentlemen, that these letters are very unanimous. In reference to the house question Mr J. C. Allen proposed that ‘ 1 In view of the Chairma .’s action at the last 'Council meeting, with regard to Mr Bellamy’s motion, we hope he will not be discouraged, but that he will tins time be successful. ’ ’ Seconded and carried. Mr McGloin: It seems that from the way the Council treated our last letter, this is likely to meet with the same fate. I see from a report that it was said they ought to be thrown into the waste-paper basket. Chairman: I understand this resolution goes direct to Thos. Bellamy.

Mr J. C. Allen: I should like to ask what steps the Exeuctivchave taken towards the establishment of branches in other parts of the district.

Chairman : I would leave that to the members of the Waihou Branch. It was supposed that each branch of tho Association wouid coine to the meetings with their members selected. I don’t think either of the branches have elected their members. In fact we have not at Morrinsville. Each elect their own representatives to the Executive. Many would prefer to do that while they were here, so it would £be best to get their opinion and elect those that are here. Will you proceed first with the election of the Chairman. Mr O’Donohue proposed Mr R. C. Alienas Chairman. This was seconded and carried.

Mr Ross proposed Mr R. A. Lamey as secretary and treasurer. This was seconded aud carried. Mr Ross then took the chair to elect the Waihou representatives. , Chairman (Mr Ross): Gentlemen, it is necessary for the Waihou branch to elect three members of the Executive. Mr O’Donohue: Perhaps Mr Ross will stand. Mr Ross: It would be difficult to find time so I must decline to stand in the position There is one matter I should like to express an opinion on: —Three members for Morrinsville and three for Waihou is not sufficient: I think the lExecutive should be five for Morrinsville and the same for Waihou. Morrinsville is a large district with much business. There is far too much responsibility on the shoulders of the secretary at that end. I think it would be best that it should be increased to five. I should like an expression of opinion on it. Mr R. C. Allen: We found this very inconvenient last year; there are times when we cannot get a meeting : we must abide by the rules now they are printed. Chairman: I have now come to the con-

clusion Ithat a branch should Ibe formed at Manawaru but no one has yet proposed it and I think it would be advisable to increase the number of members, and if there was one it might do so. The number of representatives to be elected for the Executive came up for discussion again. The Chairman suggested four, and Mr O’Donohue moved that seven be elected but the motion was dropped and no amendment was made. The following were proposed for members of the Executive from the Waihou Branch: Messrs Rooney, S. Bellamy, J. B. Thomas, J. Tretheway, J. Casey. The retiring Chairman thanked the members for their support, saying he was sorry that Mr Rooney was not here. The Waihou branch spent many pleasant evenings there, and he would be pleased if the Executive would write a note thanking Mr Rooney for his kindness shown to the Executive during the last twelve months. Messrs Bell, McGloin, and J. C. Allen Tvere proposed as Chiarman for the Morrinsville branch, but each declined to stand. The following were proposed for members of the executive from Morrinsville branch. Messrs McGloin, Pickett, Bell, Clifford, Larney. Mr Drake then read some legal opinions on the question of roads on the Lockerbie .and Waitoa estates. These will be given in a future issue. After this the members’ subscriptions were received and the meeting closed

Annual legitimate expenditure ... ..160 16 0 Amount expended above income .. ...284 8 0 Total annual expenditure .£444 14 0 £ 8. d. Weeldy legitimate expenditure 3 0 1 Amount expended above income 10 1