WAIMAKARIRI LOAN POLL.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17315, 29 November 1921, Page 6

WAIMAKARIRI LOAN POLL.

REPLY TO CRITICISM. At the meeting of tho Waipara County Council on Saturday, the chairman., Mr N. D. Campbell, drew the attention of members to the alleged unfair and misleading which had bean published in the daily papers in connexion with the Waimakariri Harbour loan poll, and the action of certain ratepayers in holding private meetings and attempting to censure the councillors of tho Amuri, Cheviot, and Waipara Counties, without giving them a chance of defending themselves. "I distinctly state the methods adopted have been un-British and unsportsmanlike," ho said, "for never have I heard of publio men being censured without being given an opportunity of stating their case." Mr Campbell stressed the point that the late Mr Evans was in no way responsible for the inclusion of Waipara County in the present area, nor for the conference of local bodies held at Kaiapoi, in June, 1920, as erroneously supposed, and that no opinion expressed by any councillor at that meeting was in any way binding on hia Council, but simply the opinion of an individual. The report of the conference was given prominence in all the newspapers, and all ratepayers had the opportunity of protesting whilst the BUI was before tho; House against their inclusion in the new rating area. Parliament alone, and not tho old Council; was responsible for the conditions governing the taking of the loan poll. j3e also drew attention to unfair impressions created by the various correspondents, viz., that the total amount of £70,000 would at once be raised, and possib'y another like sum, with no allowance whatever for any revenue to be collected. He could assure members that it was the intention of tho Harbour Board to raise £15,000 in six months, then a further £15,000 in six months, and still further £15,000 in the next six months. It would take two years to complete the training wall, and revenue would be collected as soon as the bar was opened.