CEMETERY TRUST.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 221, 18 September 1934, Page 8

CEMETERY TRUST.

THREAT TO RESIGN. DEPUTATION FROM MANGERE. NEW MEMBERS NOT WANTED. Threats that the board of trustees controlling the Mangere Cejnetery would resign if their number was increased from five to nine were made at a meeting of the Manukau County Council to-day by a deputation from the cemetery board. The deputation, which consisted of Messrs. M. B. Kirbbride, W. Scott and W. Ambury, was introduced by Mr. S. W. r 'uuse, a member of the council. He saL the council had received correspondence from a Mangere ratepayers' association, asking that the board of trustees should be increased from five to nine. The cemetery had been controlled by a small board since 1890, and the trustees did not think it necessary to have the number on the board increased. "The ratepayers seem to think that we are not doing our job," said Mr. House, who is also a cemetery trustee. "1 am at a lor=s to understand why they should want the board increased. I feel that it is a move of no-confidence and it is practically an insult." Mr. Kirkbride, who led the deputation, pointed out that the tendency was to reduce committees, not increase them. Better work was done by smaller committees and there was no need to increase this board of trustees when the revenue they had to handle was under £300 a year. A Member: Are the ratepayers making any allegations against the control of the cemetery? The Chairman, Mr. F. M, Waters: There has been no complaint of that sort. Election by Plot-Holders. Mr. S. Rickards eaid no suggestion of, any kind had been made by the ratepayers' association against the board of trustees. They had found that under the new Cemeteries Act the board could be altered and increased. The Act laid it down that the board should be elected every seven years by plot-holders of the cemetery, but as far as he knew there hacl never been a plot-holders' meeting. The ratepayers' association believed that the present constitution of the board was' irregular, and that was why the suggestion had been made. There was no lack of confidence in the three men who appeared as a deputation on the part of any member of the ratepayers' association. Mr. House: We have taken legal advice, and we find that power is vested in the County Council. Once elected, we are practically life members. When the deputation left, Mr. F. Kearslcy asked why the trustees were objecting to an increase of members. Mr. House: Because it is absurd to have, nine men to control about £200 a year. Mr. Keareley: The trouble is the present trustees are too old for the job. We want new blood, new brains on the board. The present board is fossilised. Mr. Waters: Am all the members of the association plot-holders? Mr. Rickards: Xo. and some of the trustees are not plot-holders. ilr. House: The present board is prepared to resign, and if there is any increase I am going out, for one. A committee consisting of the chairman and Messrs. House and Rickards is to bring down a report on control of the cemetery at next meeting of the council. ;