TOMAHAWK TROUBLES

Evening Star, Issue 20613, 13 October 1930, Page 2

TOMAHAWK TROUBLES

K STORMY PUBLIC MEETING IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE TO DISBAND A particularly stormy public meeting was that called by the chairman of the Tomahawk Beach Improvement Committee (Mr J. Pereira), which was held in Glencaim Hall, Tomahawk, on Saturday evening. The attendance was very large, and consisted of farmers and ratepayers of the district, members of the committee, interested persons from Anderson’s Bay, a number of youths, and a sprinkling of womenfolk. Mr Pereira said that as he was one of the persons concerned in the matters to be discussed, it would, perhaps, be more fair to have an independent person take the chair, and so asked Mr R. C. Collins to take the position. Mr J. W. Harbrow was asked to act as minute secretary. The Chairman stated that he would act as justly as he could to all parties, and hoped that those present would obey the rules of debate and the rulings of the chair, so that it would be made easier to come to some decision regarding the questions to be discussed. “WHO IS ENTITLED TO VOTE?” Mr Pereira: This meeting was called for residents and ratepayers _of the Tomahawk Riding. Are juveniles and outsiders entitled to vote ? _ The Chairman; My idea is that outsiders and persons under twenty-one years of age cannot have a vote. However, outsiders may speak on the matters brought up for discussion. “Does a subscriber to the funds of the Improvement Committee not have a vote?” asked one visitor. “I think ibis thing should be open, because a great many persons not resident in the district contributed to the fund.” The Chairman: It will be hard to find a ruling on this matter. It is only fair that subscribers get a vote. Mr N. W. Mac Lean (Anderson’s Bay) : I move that it be an open franchise. Mr Pereira: As an amendment 1 move that persons under twenty-one cannot vote. Mr Mac Lean: That is a direct negative. _ This last statement was fought out between Messrs Mac Lean and Pereira, until the chairman called for order and stated that the .amendment was quite in order. Mr G. Scott; There was more juvenile money put into the committee’s funds than that contributed by adults, and I consider the younger persons are entitled to have a say. (Lend applause.) On a show of hands the amendment was carried by 35 votes to 10. The balance-sheet was presented by the treasurer (Mr J. A. Winefield), and showed a credit of £1 11s lid. The Chairman: Everything appears to bo in otder, but are there any questions? When no questions were asked Mr Pereira moved—“ That all slips, hooks, and receipts be handed in to the chairman, who will act as trustee.” Mr Winefield: I move as an amendment that before anything is done with the books they be audited. The amendment was put to the meeting and carried, there being only a few dissenting hands. MOTION OUT OF ORDER, _ Immediately the amendment was carried Mr Winefield was again on his feet: I now move! that the committee disband. Mr Pereira: _ I rise to a point of order, Mr Chairman. The next business to be dealt with has been advertised as that in connection with the settlement of what is to be done with the committee’s property. When asked what the property in question was, Mr Pereira referred the matter to Mr Winefield, who presented the chairman with several letters and papers, among which was a list of the committee’s property. The property, it appeared, consisted of eighteen roll-down tables, two tents for the housing' of the games, some crockery, and a few odds and ends. Mr Pereira; There were nineteen tables; where has the nineteenth gone? Another thing, where did Mr Winefield get authority to have the tables, which' 1 had in my keeping, removed to his place ? Mr Winefield: Mr . Chairman, please read that letter requesting the use of the tables. As the chairman could not single the letter out he asked Mr Winefield to step forward and do so, Mr Winefield then stated that it did not matter, Mr Pereira; Mr Chairman, please read that letter. What 1 would like to know is how the, treasurer received that letter? Why did, I not get it? The secretary is the official who generally deals with matters of this kind. Mr Winefield; The letter was addressed to me personally. Mr Pereira: Then the letter lias nothing to do with this public meeting. Mr Winefield: In that case the property list is also private. Mr Winefield proceeded to the platform, and was handed his bundle of papers. Mr Pereira: The public should know what happens to tins property, and 1 therefore move that Messrs J. W. Harbrow (representing the farmers), A. Moore (absent ratepayers), Preston (householders), and J. Pereira (ratepayers on the flat) be appointed trustees of the property to see that it is kept in order for future use if required. ■ Mr J. Kidd moved the following amendment: —“That the property be advertised for sale.” Mr Pereira: The property really belongs to the public, and so cannot be sold. ■ Mr‘Preston stated that lie would soon bo leaving the district, and so could not ict as a trustee. Ho nominated Mr C. (■’ox for the position, and Mr Fox was •uly appointed one of the trustees. The motion was carried on a show of hands COMMITTEE TO DISBAND. ' Mr Pereira gave notice of motion — “ That the Tomahawk Beach Improvement Committee disband, a meeting to bo called at some future date fixed by the trustees.” He then stated that a committee like that could not disband on the spur of the moment. Everyone would have to bo notified of the intention prior to the meeting. GENERAL WELFARE OF DISTRICT.

As soon as the subject of general welfare of the district was opened Mr Pereira again rose. “ When did the Tomahawk Boating Club become a ruling poker in this district? ” he asked as ho placed before the chairman a published report of a recent meeting of the Peninsula County Council, in which it was stated that the secretary of the Boating Club had written drawing the council’s attention to the bad condition of a section of the road in Tomahawk Riding. “The Boating Club was quite right in requesting to have that work done, for there is ,10 ratepayers’ association to do it for us,” stated one of those present. This statement, dropped like a bomb, was received with loud applause. However, Mr Pereira- said that it was going past the Improvement Committee, which was not only interested in

the improvement of the bench, but also in the general welfare of Tomahawk. ‘ If they want to do something useful, why don’t they take up the matter of motor speeding between the bridge and the hall? This is becoming serious, and will have to be stopped.” The business of the meeting occupied almost two hours, and terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.