MORNINGTON RATEPAYERS

Evening Star, Issue 20778, 28 April 1931, Page 13

MORNINGTON RATEPAYERS

IS ASSOCIATION TO DISBAND? FUTURE MEETING TO MAKE DECISION Only seven members attended the umual meeting of _ the , Mornington Ratepayers’ Association last evening, md after consideration of the report md balance-sheet, a notice of motion :hat the association should disband was given, it being pointed out that if die people who would benefit by the association’s work were taking no interest in its affairs, it was useless that the remaining members should waste their time. , REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. Mr E. Thompson presided and presented the report which dealt with matters that had received attention during the past year, including the matter of tram fare concessions. School children’s concessions, _ similar to those existent on the city lines, and further concessions on the Maryhill and main, lines for adults had been asked for, but in each case the requests had been turned down. There was a credit balance of a little over £2l. “ Unfortunately, the membership had dropped a good deal this year,” said the Chairman, “ there being only thirty members. There was twice that number last year, and over a 100 the previous period. But a question cropped up a couple of years ago, which proved to be a shghb. mistake, and for it the association has- had to pay dearly. Financially, the association is not in a very healthy state, but it leaves something with which to carry on.” The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted. NO NOMINATIONS FOR OFFICERS. When the election of office-bearers was opened, the position of president failed to bring forth a nomination,, and one or two members of the committee desired to withdraw from their offices for the ensuing term. MOTION TO DISBAND.

The Chairman then asked what should be done to which Mr E. Coxhead answered that under the circumstances it would be advisable for the association to disband. The ratepayers were taking no interest in the association’s work, and what was the use of members wasting their time? He then gave notice of motion—“ That owing to the apathy of the ratepayers of the district, it is advisable ; to disband the association. The Chairman advised that ,it would be necessary to call another special general meeting to deal with this notice of motion. . It was evident that the association did not command the confidence of ratepayers when only a week of two ago a supposed influential body from the district waited on the City Council with regard to Mornington tramway matters, said Mr R. Hughes, Mr E. Paton remarked that Mi? Hughes was unaware of the ins and outs of the question. The Mailer street extension had been deferred in its consideration for twelve months by the association, ow’ihe to tha financial' depression, but another party had stepped into the breach and forced the matter into the lime-light once again. “ It was the due of our chairman to have the offer of representing the association om that deputation,” said Mr W. L Tennet. A newcomer to the district, Mr C. R. Smith, said that it would be a great pity if the association should “go through,” and it was to be hoped that the members present could rally up a larger number of ratepayers for tha next and most important meeting. “The long and short of the matter is that if we don’t push our barrow someone else will push for us,’ said the Chairman, when closing the meeting, intimating that a special general meeting to decide the fate of the association would be called in two or three weeks’ time. A vote of thanks_ to the chairman for his services during the past two years was carried by acclamation, and the meeting terminated.