THE OMATA RIDING.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 176, 18 August 1909, Page 3

THE OMATA RIDING.

PROPOSAL TO SECEDE. The meeting of county ratepayers at Okato on Monday largely attended, Mr. W. Gray presiding. The chairman expressed the opinion that the rates collected were suilicierit to keep the riding loads in good repair, hut this could not be done so long as so much of the revenue went in administrative expenses as now. He advocated the formation of the whole of the Omata riding into a new county. .The proposal was supported by Messr6 C. E. Honcvfield and V. J. Morris.

In the' following discussion, it became apparent that many ratepayers considered a saving could be ejected by simply J merging the several road districts into, the Tavanaki county, or by forming one ] road hoard for the riding instead of seven boards. - Mr. F. J. Morris moved and Mr. W. ,), Gray seconded, 'That a petition for the purpose of severing from the Taranaki County Council and for the formation of a new county or road district to administer the whole affairs of the riding, including the present seven road districts, be circulated and presented to Parliament,"—Carried. It was decided that a further meeting he held at Omata on Monday evening next, for the purpose of placing the proposals before the ratepayers of the Barrett, Omata and Upper -Hurford road district, and soliciting their co-opera-tion. , _ Messrs Gray, Morris and Lawn were elected a committee to further tue'pro> po!»U in. tie interim.