PROPOSED INGLEWOOD COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 August 1919, Page 2

PROPOSED INGLEWOOD COUNTY.

TARANAKI COUNCIL DECLINES TO OPPOSE BILL. At yesterday's meeting of the Tarnnak! County Council, the chairman (Cr. J. S. Conhett) moved that the Council should take every men lis to oppose the establishment of the proposed Inglewood County. He Raid he whs still convinced that it was a step in the wrong direction and not in the interests of the ratepayers of Taranaki or the.proposed now county. He was further of opinion that the finding of the commission was not in accordance with the ovidonco given before it. Ho thought the commission had paid too much attention to what had been said aa to the treatment meted out to.the.Moa district by the Taranaki' County, and he also referred to what he considered the unfair action of the Inglewood County advocates' in taking the commissioner around the district. Cr. J. Andrews was of opinion that the matter should he allowed to take its course. He did not think It much use opposing the county. Cr. Morton said he was opposed to the chairpian's motion, not because ,he was In favor of the Inglewood County, but because he thought the county was bound to accept the finding*of tho commission. He waa rtuite satisfied it was a wrong,finding, ant] not in accord with evidence, but that had no bearing on the matter, hb the understanding had been, when the matter was .before tho Local Bills \Com'raittee, and the Minister undertook to set up a' cOmmisslort to hear' 'all the cvideiico, that the finding would be accepted by both parties. •Whether the methods adopted by the promoters of, the county were unfair or not, the Council flhould accept the position as It was, and not further; oppbfic the county. He was satisfied it was a mistake, and of course, the Minister and tho Local Bills Committee might yet not adopt the finding of the commission.

Cr. Wn.oWnjJtfpto said he did not know by •what method the ;Inglewood people had secured the signatures, but he believed a petition in favoT of the county had been signed by about 00 per cent, of the ratepayers. He thought that flhould. carry more weight than even the commission's report, and on tbat point he was against the chairman's motion. Cr. Simp Son said that If the Council was successful in blocking the new County Bill this year he was quite sure the question would como up again, because the people there were determined to get a separate county. lie thought also in view of the ratepayers' opinion in the area concerned, they should let the district work out its own destiny.' Cr. Vickers said he thought if it had been understood that the finding of the commission was to be. accepted by nil parties, they should not 'go any further in the matter. He was, howovcr, opposed to the constitution of small counties, and to the whittling away of the areas of the present Taranaki County. He thought it''would be more and moro rocognised that as the harbor at Moturoa developed all ror.ds would, load to Now Plymouth, and the Taranaki County would be obliged to. carry more and more.heavy traffic from all the other counties to the port, in spite of what might be said about community of interest with other districts.

Cr. C. Andrews supported the chairman and I Bald everything should be done to place the true I position before the Bills Committee. He was convinced the step was a huge mistake. Cr. Capper thought It would have been i better if some outside gentlemen had been ap- ' pointed commissioners. When the first proposal for a separate county had been made he had been one of Its heartiest supporters, but in the present 'case, being a member of the County Council, ho did not care to take any part. He thought the Counties Conference should be given an opportunity of discussing the position, and to express an opinion as to whether large or small counties were In tho best Interests of tho Dominion

Cr. Laurence said he adhered to the position he had taken up throughout the proceedings, and remained neutral on tho question.

The chairhian repeated that his opinion was that the proposal was contrary to the interests of the surrounding local bodies that there should be another county. It would bo a great deal better if there were fewer counties in Taranaki. He had no personal feelings againßt anyone in the Moa district, but was following cmt what he believed was his duty as chairman of the'eounty. Before the 4vote was taken Cr. Vickers made a personal.',flxptanatlon of his position, he not havipg tyeji m, member of the Council at the time tm : proceedings took place. He would, liofcever, vote in the direction in which his convictions carried him. The voting was: For the motion: the chairman. and Crs C. Andrews and S. Vickers; ngainst: Crs. .T. Andrews, A, Morton, J. Wooldridge, and J. B. Simpson. Cm. Laurence and Capper left the table while the vdte'wAs taken. It was •subsequently understood that a general remit on would be submitted 'o tho Counties Conference.