SUBURBAN ELECTORS

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 152, 24 March 1938, Page 13

SUBURBAN ELECTORS

Central Committee Formed TO CONSIDER PROBLEMS OF GENERAL IMPORT Representatives of Wellington suburban ratepayers’, electors’ and progressive associations met at the Town Hall last night to consider the formation of a central committee to discuss questions of general city and suburban importance. The mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop,, said that such an association, representing the united opinion of the residential districts, might prove veryvaluable and helpful to the city council, particularly in consideration of the big problems with which it was to be faced in the near future, particularly regarding arrangements for the centennial. The meeting was convened by Mr. G. P. Anderson, of the Hataitai Municipal Electors’ Association, and there were present, besides the mayor, Mr. G. I. S. Boyer (Hataitai Electors’ Association), Dr L G. Austin and Mr. B. A. Baggett (Brooklyn District Municipal Electors’ Association), Mr. B. Barrington (Khandallah Progressive Association), Mr. E. Bull and Mr. R. Hayman (Melrose Ratepayers' and Electors’ Association) and Mr. S. Duncan (Tawa Flat Ratepayers’ and Progressive Association). It was resolved that these bodies represented should form a central committee, comprising two delegates from each association, and that invitations to join should be issued to other suburban bodies; the committee to be entirely non-political. Mr. Anderson said that his association had considered it would be wise to obtain co-ordination between the different suburban bodies, as distinct from the body restricted wholly to the city and known as the Wellington Ratepayers’ Association. Any proposal brought before the city council would carry more weight if it came from such a body, representing the entire suburban districts of Wellington. He felt that the representatives of the residential areas should have the opportunity of discussing together what they were going to do before the election. The Mayor said that he was particularly glad to have been invited, as the main purpose of the meeting was to organise the suburban associations so that big issues should receive ample discussion and concerted action should result. “I think there is a great deal in the old saying that unity is strength,” he said. Each district had its individual problems, and its own association to further its own interests. But there were other matters affecting the whole community, and there should be an opportunity for their discussion, and the formulation of a common policy. “There are big things coming before the city council in the near future, considerable problems in connection with the Centennial arrangements,” he said. “We are now coming to the stage where we are right up against the main problems. If we can have the benefit of discussion, we shall be assisted greatly. There are a lot of problems such as accommodation at the time of the exhibition. That is a real problem—to provide accommodation for all the people who will come to Wellington at that time. It is a thing in which the various suburban associations may be of considerable assistance.”

The mayor added that the committee dealing with these questions was making progress, but by conferring witli local associations it would be able to ascertain just how far Its schemes were likely to succeed. “I feel perfectly certain that by pooling your ideas you can be much more helpful to the City Council and to the whole city,” he said.

The response to the appeal made to the various associations indicated that such a central committee would meet general support, said Mr. Boyer. That seven or eight important associations had welcomed the idea was a guide to the very definite need for it.