THE MORNINGTON RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Evening Star, Issue 12885, 7 August 1906, Page 8

THE MORNINGTON RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION.

. kist night’s meeting of the above Association Mr John Wood occupied the chair. The Town Clerk, Borough of Mornington, wrote in reply to a communication received from the Association'in regard to one of the receiving a bonus, and conveying a motion passed by the Association In reply, the town “clerk stated that , the Council did not recognise the Association as a body, and any ratepayer who desired information could ’obtain- it in the ordmaiy way from the town clerk during office heure.—Received. Mr Mantz asked if nothing was going to be ’ done regarding the “ snub ” lately administered to the Association by the Council. Re would moye-a-“ That, as k was the Council’s avowe'd intention to ignore the’ status pf the Association and.,belittle, their influence with the, ratepayers, this Association revolve to cease all correspondence with the Council in their corporate capacity, and in future to .convey the . complaints, grievances, and remonstrances of their members by direct personal representation, in accordance with.the Act of 1950.” The Chairman said that in passing such a resolution the Association would be guilty of bad taste. He thought the Association should try to work amicably with the Council in the interests of the ratepayers, of whom the Association were a minority. The motion was carried ,by 12 votes to 7. Mr Hoodie said he thought the ratepayers had been treated most discourteously as far as the Maryhill extension line, was concerned. He had seen the car suspended in what he thought was a dangerous position on tbo line with porters on tho windows referring to fares, but there was absolutely no intimation as to how long the car was to be stopped. Ho considered that the Maryhill line had been consistently starved ever since tho Council had had control of it. They were stuck up now for a rope, and but for this accident more would have been heard of the matter. Another matter lor grievance lay in the fact that the rails had been taken up on the main line and sold, when they should have been laid-on the extension line. Mr Simon moved—“ That this Association regret that tho Maryhill tram has been discontinued from imnning, and consider that .someone has blundered by not looking ahead so that a rope might have been to hand when required, thus saving the extra cost of a rope which has been bought locally, as well as loss of revenue from faios.” Cr Anderson said the passing of such a resolution would not either do good or harm. He would say that the damaged .-opo had been a most inferior one, while ood things had been expected of it. The rope had been purchased, he thought, during ex-Mayor Simon’s term of office, and men the specification had been forwarded 0 thc makers they offered even a superior ope to tbo sample forwarded to them, for he good of themselves they said, and tht benefit of tho service. This was the rope mder notice, and it had only lasted tweotvwo months. A- Member: How long do they usually run? Cr Anderson said sometimes a rope would ’ast seven years. Had the Council known uch an accident was likely to occur it ould not have lieen allowed to happen. However, the rope would be to hand on vVednesday, and it was thought thc car would be running on Saturday. In reply, Mr Simon said ho could not understand why the 'Authorities had not 'wen able to see far enough aliead and order 1 rope in sufficient time to replace that om out. This line had always paid its cay when he was a member of the Council, and, in addition, it was an excellent eedcr to the main line. He might add hat the ear on the main line was not rim- • ng to suit those wishing to use it during dinner hour. Cr Anderson mentioned that the car would have had to be stopped in any case or painting, etc., un leas an extra car was built, which was not advisable. The resolution was lost by 10, votes to 6.