CONSTITUTION OF INGLEWOOD COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 April 1920, Page 3

CONSTITUTION OF INGLEWOOD COUNTY .

THE ■AWufiAL DINNER. / The inaugural dinner tfhych was held in 'M\ Inglewood Town Hall on Frflklav night to c(fbratc the constitution of thellttglewood Cotfitv proved a very successful funcjtlon, there lisl'ff n very representative gatheril»gMn|>««l^el^) ! ' >, ) present. Mr. A. Corklll, chairman %£•''«>« late Moa. Road Board, tc whose efforts v .( h 9 success of the movement for the constitutloJl of the county is largely due, presided, and he was supported on his right hv Hon. I). H. Guthrie, Minister of Lands, and Mr. S. G. Smith, M.P., for Taranaki, and on his left Mr. J. B. Hine, ex-member for Stratford. Others present at the official table included: Messrs. Hy. Brown (ex-member for Tnranaki), C. A. Wilkinson (ex-member for Egmont), J. H. Connett, R. H Pigott, and B. Walter (chairmen of the Taranaki, Clifton, and Stratford County Councils), .las. Clarke (Mayor of New Plymouth), Newton King. C. J'aylor (manager of the Farmers' Co-op. Organisation Society), and Messrs. D. Todd, A. Cowley, J. Hunter. T. S. Bowler. It. Stewart, (members of the Road Board), Lloyd (county clerk), and Whiteside (county 'ingineer). Messrs. J. H. Lyon and .1. Sutherland (Mayor of Inglewood) occupied the vice chairs. Apologies were received from the Hon. W. P. Massey, Sir W. Fraser, Hon. .1. G. Coates, Hon. 0. Samuel, Messrs. B. Masters, f!. H. Ballard (Commissioner of Crown Lands), C. J. Belcher (chairman Elthaun County Council), T. A McPhilllps (chairman Wulmate County Council), J. \V. McMillan (Mayor of Stratford), A. Hunter, Lleut.-Col. Weston, and T. C. List. After full justice had been done to the good fare dispensed hy Mrs. Howell and a willing band of assistants, a lengthy toast list was discussed, opening with the usual loyal toast of "The King" The chairman then extended a hearty welcome to the visitors present, and expressed the hope thai the "new baby" would have a good christening. "The Government" was proposed by Mr. .T. H. .Lyon, who stated that the land was the most important source of wealth we had, and the district, should feel honored In having present Hon. D. H. Guthrie, the Minister of Lands. He touched on the work of the National Government, stating it was the abnegation and seif-sarrinee of members of Parliament that assisted to win the war. This was/osponded to by Hon. T) H. Guthrie (his remarks being reported in Saturday's issue). "The Army and Navy" was proposed by Mr. W. E. Perciva). who paid a tribute to the work of all sections, and particularly tho rank and file. Mr. Bakewell and Major Hino responded, the latter heing given a most enthusiastic reception on rising to speak. He paid a Iribute to the non-coremlssioned officers and rank and file who bore Ihe brunt of the fight, and for whom they could not do too much. "Tile Moa Read Board" was proposed by Mr. P. Stevens, who stated that he became a member of the Board in 1880. when Mr. Peters was chairman. Opportunity was at that time given local bodies to take advantage of the loans to Local Bodies Act. He paid a tribute to the work of the men who had given their time and services to the best of their ability. With the establishment of ihe crermcries came Ihe demand for good roads and the funds that enabled them to be provided. Now they had changed from a road district to a county they wanted to remember that it behoved Inglewood to assist the county, because if tho arterial roads leading to the town were not kept up the town would suffer. Mr. H. Trimble, ex-chairman of the Moa Road Board for many years, congratulated the promoters on having succeeded in getting the county, which waul'! netyl the very earnest support of ratepayers He considered a much larger rate would bo necessary, as some form of modern road construction would be needed to cope with the heavy motor traffic Whatever might be thought of taxing motor traffic it was the r.'.lepaycrs who would have to put down the roads It was no use thinking- they couid make some one else pty. and they cnust consider whether it would not he better to pay an amount they knew they were paying by' rate rather than pay an Indirect amount through extra cairiagc due to a motor tax He touched on the action of the Government In making it. a condition that the amount of subsidy paid the new county should not exceed the amount paid fo the old county. He also deprecated limiting the subsidy to a rale of »}d, conslderim: that a subsidy should be paid on the full rate used for maintaining the roads. Tills would largely do away with the cry so prevalent to tax outside traffic. Mr. A. Cork-ill said that the Road District automatically went out of existence on March m. and it was a pity It had not gone out ten years before. It. was no sinecure being chairman of a Road Board, and he considered that- Mr. Trimble was a hero for "sticking it" for eighteen years Personally, he had a had time during the first two months, being slated hy the ratepayers, the Press, and his tombstone having been erected In the square. Howev.-r, tliev had haHied tho Mea's egg. and n o«- had the ball at their feet, and he booed that the ratepayers would take a keen interest and elect progressive men to the new Council

"The Parliament of New Zealand" was Tironosed by Mr H. Brown who said that Parliament as a whole had always been a credit to the Dominion, having alwajs maintained Its dignity. One reason for this was that they had the benefit, of great men as speakers. Parliament was really the reflex of the constituents, and Its e-nstltut!on showed that the people realised their duties and returned men who did them credit.

Mr. S. C Smith. MP , who was warmly received, staled that while still a. junior member of Parliament, he happened, through a peculiar set of circumstances, to be the senior member for the Taranakl Provincial District present. He did not know of any politician who had come out of Parliament richer than he went into It, but he knew of dozens that that had come out poorer. He considered New Zealand was free from political taint. On entering Parliament, lie was struck with the cordial welcome that he had received from all sections.

Mr. C A. Wilkinson (aid that In Parliament one was in the heart of thine,. 1 ). He considered with Mr. Smith, that no man came out. of Parliament better off financially. .It was a scandalous thing that New Zealand only paid Its members of Parliament £3OO a year. He considered that they should get at least £3OO. New Zealand Parliament would compare favorably with the Federal Parliament, r.iembers of which received £(!00 per annum. This matter should be remedied at once. He paid a tribute to the honesty of members of Parliament He also referred to the assistance the Hon. Guthrie had given in the formation of the new county. The district was lucky to get a county, as tho chances were against It, but the district had some strenuous battlers, among whom the greatest was Mr. A. Corkill. He also expressed pleasure at seeing present, not only those that supported the movement, but also those that opposed It, among them Messrs. Connett and Morion. This augured woll for the success of the movement. The county had a good deal of work before It In bringing its roads up-toVdate, and he hoped they would not erect half-a-dozen toll gates. The question of subsidy was a. difficult one, and he thought it should be tackled by Parliament without delay. Conditions re road maintenance had changed vastly of late, aid he thought the present wa» a good opportunity for tho whole question of subsidy and taxation, etc. to be tackled. Mr. J. B. Hlne said there was a fascination about politics that one did not like to leave It. It had been said that he was not at present a past parliamentarian Then all he could say was that he would bo a future imemher. He referred to the work Mr. C. A. Wilkinson had done In his ansence in launching the county. Local Government reform wi.s required badly. When, Minister of Internal Affairs, ho had determined to get tho whole weight of County Councils behind him wllh a. view to introducing local body reform. Conditions had changed. Hoads must be modernised to deal with motor traffic, which must bear its share of tho expense. His personal opinion —he was not a member now—-was that Ihere should he a tyre tax. collected by. the Customs, and tho man then who wore out. the roads would pay fur them through his tyres. "Mercantile Interest." was proposed hy Mr. J. W. Wlnneld, and responded to hy. Messrs Newton King and Taylor, manager of the Farmers' Organisation Company. Mr, .Tas. Clarko proponed "The Inglcwood County," expressing the hope that Mr. Cnrklll. who had been ono of the most strenuous workers for tho noupty, would bo the first chalnman. In administration. New Plymouth had adopted the system of appointing a general manager, and lie urged the Inglewaod County to consider tho same noliiiy. Loeal bodies, he said, would welcome any flovenimcn" rtform for the Improvement of self government Mr. Corkill. In responding, said that #'« raising of tho district to the status, f,f h county marked one of the moU oto'sresslve moves in Its hUtnpy, and one that would I prove of great benefit to the dltsrict Cuitl I indirectly to tho Dominion. The dual foutrol of County and Road Board caused ronsldorablo leakage, and thero also was the fact that a good deal of money went nut of the district. He referred to tho amicable way In which Stratford County met them over the boundaries. They had left Clifton alone, because they respgnlsej they would get all the fight they wanted from Taranaljl, who for a had case, put ti* a good fight. The {Jtsnks of the district wure due te Mv. Wilkinson for his untiring efforts on their behatr during the absence of Major Hlne (tenting ror i his aountrr. JJss&re- Jaaatnga and Sailth. M.P.'s, and Hon. 0. Sunuel had given great assistance, whilst the, evidence of W. Mc--1 Phillips, chairman vt ftf Waimate County.

and his experience in working a small county tad proved invaluable. He thanked all who aad assisted them to obtain the county, flood roads were essential, and he would like to suggest that the Government should fix. a standard for main arterial roads, give an additional buhsidy,, and compel local bodies

:o bullfi «1> to tliat. standard. There was ;oo much experimenting at present. He vould like to Bee toll-gates abolished, as hey were relics of barbarism. He was proud :o have had his name associated with the ;ounty movement.

Mr. K. Stewart said that he had lived twelve years in" the backhlocks, and his chief experience of roads was the want of them. Mr. D. Todd said that he had* not been a member of the Board long, but he had been a contractor, and he knew how money bad been squandered, Jle contrasted old methods with the present. >Mr. J. Hunter .referred to the long fight tliS, v nn(i '""' t0 S°t the county, and he considers? " 8 fl" 11 ' kuecess was due to the nttempt ypade by the Taranaki county to swallow the\y? district,. Some of the totalisalor tax shouldr 6 devoted to the maintenance of main roadsA T Mr. .T. H. \Lyon referred to the sporting way In which Nj"' l opponents had met them on common grd unc '' < " 00( ' roads ■ were essential, and the}'" 1 '""' undoubtedly grown beyond the water se'U !ed ■ rft!H ' ''"fie. Expenditure of loan moil?!' °" good roads was also essential.

"Local Bodies" wa 1 * Proposed by Mr. A. Marshall, and Messrs. .las. Clarke (Mayor of New Plymouth). *• Sutherland (Moyor of Inglewood), ttA. latter, on behalf of the ratepayers of IngieW o * l - c0 « - gratulatlng Mr. Corklll on the hl» efforts, which he had at. one time regard as hopeless. He stressed the need for iffe county and borough to work In harmony Mr. J. s. Connett, chairman'of the Taranaki County Council, complimented Mr. Cork--11l upon the great energy and grit he had put into the work of getting the county congratulated him on the good luck that had attended his.efforts, and applauded him for Reir.ing the opportunity when it arose. What the speaker had done In opposition to the establishment of the Inglewood County had been done in what he considered his duty to the Taranaki County. He had no personal feeling in the matter, but when he took up the position of chairman, he made it his aim to do away with dual rontrol. Ho touched on the difficulties local bodies had in carrying out the various works entrusted to them. One of these difficulties was finance, and he had always endeavoured to look after the Interests of his ratepayers in a fair and equitable manner. Referring to the wheel tax. he said that the county loan for tar-seallng would not have been carried but Tor his pledse that he would endeavor to get motor traffic to contribute to tho revenue. They had been told for years that the Government were going to deal with the matter, and now die war was over ho contended it was the duty of the Government to deal with tire matter, and as a protest the Taranaki Countv Council had taken action. Thev first favored toll gates, which they knew they could not get, and then finally the wheel tax, .which they had power to Impose, but, as wns known, they had these powers for years, but immediately they wanted to rut them into operation their powers were revoked. What Use therefore were these powera? They had heard members of Parliament speak of Hi? need for reform, and he wanted all local bodies to join with them in urging on the Government the need for instituting reforms. They intended to keep on plugging away till (hoy got something. They had applied for 1011-gates, not In, the hope of getting them hut In the hope that they would force Parliament to do something next season. However, despite the unanimous wish of the County Conference, and the wish of motorists to pay a tax, he had heard on good authority that nothing would ho done next session to place the matter of upkeep of roads on a fair and equitahlo basis.

Mr. h. Walter (charlatan of the Stratford County Council) said that local bodies could not make good motor roads on rates, and the Government should not step in and stop Ihe local bodies raising the revenue He considered toll gates tho best method of raising revenue, if there were sufficient revenue to pay the cost of collection Thev were willing to do away with the toll gate If the Government would come to the rescue lie congratulated' Mr. Corkill on the fight he had put up. J Mr. It H. Pigott (chairman of the Clifton County Council), also spoke briefly. "Farming Interests in Taranaki." was proposed by Mr. Newton King, who referred to the complete success of the co-operative system of dairying in Taranaki. There was « good time In front of them In dairying He touched ra the success of the New riymoutli harbor scheme, and also uttered a warning regarding excessive 'and values.

Messrs D Todd (dairying,) and ,T. » j,yon (pastoral) responded.

Other toasts were: "Visitors." proposed try Mr R Stewart, nnrt responded to by Messrs. H L. Billlriß and S. 0. Smith MV 'The Ladles," proposed by Mr Buckley mid responded to hy Mr. \V. E. Veroival • "The. I'i-css." proposed by Mr J Sutherland, anil responded to by the representatives of the Taranaki Daily Xews. Herald, Stratford Post and Iniilewood Record, and "The Chairman ,; During the eveninc an excellent musical nrrcrairaic was rendered, sonjs beln" contributed by Messrs. R. Darlow, K fieddes A Howlctt, and .T. Sutherland, . recitations' liv Mr. P. Partrldee, and musical monologue bv Mr. \\. H. fioldsworthy All were encored Messrs. ,T. Sutherland and H. Wood played the accompaniments.