MOKAU AGAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 183, 12 January 1915, Page 8

MOKAU AGAIN.

To the Editor.

Sir, —A brief reply I ask you to grant me to Mr. Walter Jones' letter in yeur issue of Monday last. I never stated in my letter of December 21 i that his property was in the Awakino County—l knew the geographical position of the Mokan block better than that. In reference to the payment of rates to the Clifton County, is not Mr. Jones aware that on several occasions during the pasL twelve years that Council discussed the unsatisfactory position of the non-pay-ment of rates due on the Mokau-Moha-katino Block ? I accept Mr. Jones' statement that his cheque went in for payment, but I would ask him this: Was lie rated by the Clifton County on liia 894 acres at the annual rental value of £3 14s 6d, and which property lie held from the executors of the Flowers Estate for a period of 28 years from 7th January 1808. My reference to the Local Bodies Act had nothing to do with Awakino County. If your correspondent rends my letter carefully, lie will see where his error lies. My reference to local bodies could not apply to Awakino i County, for it was an inoperative County j when that beneficent amendment of I loans to local bodies was brought into I operation by the Liberal party, which ! gave settlers cheap money for metalling I and bridge purposes. My remark —"The determined attempt to frustrate the bringing into operation the provisions of the amendment to the Loans to I Local Bodies Act" —applies to resolutions j passed against the Amending Act by the Clifton County Council, Wliangamomona | County, and other Counties in Taranaki, | when the subject was before the House. Mr. Jones concludes his letter by statI ing: "T was one of the leaders of the j movement which resulted in the provi- ] sions of that Act being made use of, and I a (?Awakino) County Council elected." II am glad to hear that as Mr. 'Walter I Jones is increasing in years, his out- . look has broadened. I well remember a petition being taken round Mokau and Awakino by Mr. Eobieson about twelve years ago, the prayer of the petition being that Awakino County be brought I into active operation. I also know, as M.P. for the district, the determined and successful attempt to frustrate that move, and against it was Mr. Walter Jones and others of his family, who held land in Awakino County—not in Clifton County.—l am, etc., WM. T. JENNINGS. January fl, IDIS.