MOA COUNTY BILL.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1915, Page 4

MOA COUNTY BILL.

AGAIN BEFORE THE HOUSE SECOND READING AGREED TO OUT THE VOICES. By Telegraph.—Special to Daily Newt. Wellington, Last, Night. In tlio House to-night Mr. J, B. Bin* (Stratford) moved the second rending of the Moa County Bill, He said that the Local Bills Committee had reported adversely on the Bill, on the ground that the time had arrived when no additional counties should be created, He did not '' think the committee was entitled to ' dictate in a matter of policy,. and • he intended to test the feeling of the House on the subject. The proposed Mot County was closely populated and progressive, and it had a capital value of £BIO,OOO, so that revenue was available, and its present governing body (the Moa Road Board) was not trilling 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. Russell) opposed the Bill. He said the Local Bills Committee had not reported against the Bill on the grounds of poliey. It had studied the proponl carefully, had heard both side*, ana had decided then that the Bill ought not to proceed. It had held that the Taranaki County should not be dismembered by the creation of the Moa Road District into a county. The Taranaki County was a strong one, and its administration had given general satisfaction, except to a certain portion of the Moa County. He did not think the Government should be asked at the present juncture to pay additional subsidies to a new county. Mr. Russell assured the House that the Local Bill* Committee had done its work thoroughly and conscientiously, and he regretted the absence of Mr. Fearn (Patea), chairman of the committee. Mr. H. 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. The passing of the Bill would put the Taranaki County in a very awkward position. It had spent a large sun on plant for road making and mainten- 1 ance, and its roads were exceptionally good. The roads in the Moa Road District, on the other hand, were not, good, and the separation now asked fpr was not in the interests of anybody. Other road districts had merged Info the county with advantage.

The Prime Minister taid the Taran&ki County was one of the most progressiva in the dominion, and its roads were particularly good. He suggested that in the absence of the Chairman of the Local Bills Committee the Bill should be given its second reading that night, and then the division could be taken at a later stage. . ( After Mr. Hine had replied briefly, the Bill was read a second time on the voices,