ROTORUA BOROUGH.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 302, 22 December 1933, Page 8

ROTORUA BOROUGH.

SELF-GOVERNMENT MOVE.

COUNCIL NOT IN FAVOUR. (From Our Own Correspondent.) ROTORUA, Thursday. The constitution of the Rotorua Borough Council for some discussion at last night's meeting, when Mr. G. T. Johnson moved: "That the council take the necessary steps to obtain an amendment of section 4 of the Rotorua Borough Act, 1922, to provide that all members of the council shall be elected by the electors of the board and that none of such members shall be appointed by the Governor-General." Sir. Johnson said he had nothing personal against the existing Government representatives on the council, but he considered that Rotorua had_ now grown to a size when it wa& able to' manage its own affairs, and the council should be given absolute control. Further, where persons or interests did not contribute rates they? had no right to representation and the Government had ceased to hand over the borough's share of -the bath fees. Mr. F. Goodman seconded the motion. Messrs. Woolliams, Steele, Coleman and the Mayor, together with the two Government nominees (Mr. L. J. Bayfield and Mr. W. H. Wackrow) all opposed the motion, Mr. Coleman pointing out that the Government still paid £1600 to the council, which was one-sixth of the revenue. Mr. Bayfield pointed out that a liaison officer between the council and the Government was a decided advantage. The Mayor was of opinion that the interests of the council and the Government were so interwoven that representation was justified. The motion was lost, the mover and seconder being the only supporters.