HUTT TRAMS. IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE BOARD.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 15 April 1911, Page 9

HUTT TRAMS. IMPORTANT MEETING OF THE BOARD.

RESIGNATION WITHDRAWN. SHOULD THE BOARD DISSOLVES The Hutt Valley Tramway Board! held a special meeting at the 'Tows, Hall buildings, Lower Hutt, last evetii ing. Members present were the chair* man (Mr. J. W. M'Ewan) and Messrs^ _ H. Findlay, J. Austin, J. T. Hawthorn; R. J. Southgate, H. Baldwin, and Ro t bt. Stevens. A RESIGNATION, AND A LETTER., Business before the meeting was consideration of two special matters — the resignation of Mr. Stevens, as a member ( of the board, and a letter from Mr. J. T. Hawthorn, definitely announcing his policy on the tramway question. In Ms communication, Mr. Hawthorn stated that at the last meeting of tha board he was undecided as to whab position he would take up iv referenca >•* to the loan proposal of £65,000. Now, however, after mature consideration, ho wished to inform members that he would strongly oppose the loan, bouh publicly, and privately. He added that in the near future he believed "greater and 1 better proposals" could be put before the ratepayers. In reference to his resignation, Mr^ Stevens submitted a written explanation to the effect that following on the letter received from Mr. Hawthorn, he felt that lie had no alternative but to resign his seat. Also, he suggested that! in view of the fact that members of the board could not agree on tho question, it would be futile to proceed with a poll of ratepayers. The board, he considered, should formally dissolve, and! delegate the chairman and secretary t,o. wind up its affairs. " I WON'T RESIGN !"■ The two matters were jointly discuss^ cd. Referring to Mr. Hawthorn's letter, tho chairman said he presumed that all that remained to do was simpljj to receive it. At the same time, however, he said ho was greatly surprised! that Mr. Hawthorn should have written the letter 1 in question, especially ia view of what had taken place" at the; last meeting. 'I think," remarked Mr.. v M'Ewan, 'that even if he was not ml favour of the motion (deciding to approach the ratepayers for the third! time) it would have been very much more to the purpose if he had offered'" to resign, or made up his mind not to , take a prominent part eithor for oi; against the scheme !" \ Mr. Hawthorn : Mr. chairman, it ia not your business to tell me to resign.) I take strong exception to your remai'k. Mr. M'Ewan : I did not say that you! should resign. I merely pointed oub your two alternatives. Mr. Hawthorn : I'll go a bit stronger, % and say I won't resign; and I'll stick to my guns. While there is a board I*lll' be a member. It is for the ratepayers and not you to say that I must re^ sign ! He added that since the tram* ways were originally mooted condi-i ditions had changed. The Government, for instance, had given an, assurance that water-power would soon be available.. It might be some time -* — Mr. Southgate : Twenty or thirty] years. "HiIARTILY SICK OF THE BOARD." Continuing, Mr. Hawthorn said thaii 75 per cent, of the people were heartily, sick of theljoard, and, no matter what scheme was put before them, it wouldi be "turned dowu solidly." Petoneratepayers in particular would not listen to it. That being the case, what was the use of "us sitting here?" "Well, will you tell us this much," in-! terjected Mr. Findlay, "is the need for trams in the valley just as great a^ ever?" Mr. Hawthorn : Every bit. Probably) no man stands to benefit by the trams more than myself." In the course of a lengthy speech, thet chairman eaid 'it was hopeless to cxi pect anything to come of the Go.verni ment water-power scheme until at least! five or six years. The board went oufl in February next by effluxion of time.i An election of members was required! to be taken in June next. The ex-< penses of an election and a poll wer« almost on a par, and, under the dr* cumstances, was it not better^ to takes another poll, and than, if th« boardl was again beaten, let members resign.! Mr. M'Ewan warned members that' when the board ceased to exist, its powers would revert severally to tha two borough councils. Once that came to pass all hopo of a, }'oint scheme — which was the only practical scheme for the valley — would be effectually knocks' ed on the head. POWER FROM THE CITY COUNCIL. Touching on v tho suggestion to buy, power from the Government, Mr.. M'Ewan said he would go further % "Why not," he remarked, "ask the Wel^ H iington City Council if it Would be pre- - pared to sell electric power to tha board ? _ At present are eateringr at a price which the board cannot hopei to compete with. We could continueto buy the power until the Government* was ready with its scheme." Mr. Stevens, who did not put in an appearance at the meeting until late in the evening, here 6aid that he certanly thought Mr. Hawthorn, .holding; the views he did, should have resigned) his position. Mr. Austin also took Mr. Hawthornr severely to task for his alleged change of front. According to Mr. Baldwin, if he had been at the last meeting, he would ceri tanlv have voted against the eightmiles scheme. "I want," he said, "tha whole scheme, or no scheme at all, because it (the 'short route) is no use to the Hutt !" POLL TO BE TAKEN. After further discussion, it was reported to the press that a resolution had been carried that tho loan pro-> posal of £65,000 for an eight-mile, ser* vice be proceeded with; and that Mr., Hawthorn had agreed to withdraw active opposition to the proposal, understanding that the board at it* last meeting agreed to dissolve in the event of the poll being unsuccessful. Mr. Stevens, in consequence, agreed' to withdraw his resignation. The poll will be taken in about nix weeks time.