COUNTIES MERGER

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 April 1937, Page 12

COUNTIES MERGER

REEFTON MEETING’S DECISION. [OUB OWN COBRESPONDENT.] REEF.TQN, -April 16. A meeting of ratepayers of the Reefton Riding was held in the Criterion Theatre last evening. There was a good attendance. Cr. F. W. Archer, Acting-County Chairman, presided, and Crs. F. Seawright, member for the Reefton Riding, T. R. Watson, member for Crushington, and Mr W. B. Auld (County Clerk) attended. The Chairman read the letter from the Minister of Internal Affairs concerning the matter. The Chairman of •the Grey County was not in favour of amalgamation, and held that amalgamation was not necessary. The financial aspect had to be considered. In the Buller County the rate was 7d in the pound on the unimproved value i as against 2Jd' in Inangahua. Rating i on capital value would affect .mining. The present mining rate was £1405. If this was rated on the capital value it would amount to £5194. The Inangahiia County was in a good financial position and had plant to carry out necessary work. Cr. Seawright stated that the Council contended that the move made by the Minister for the amalgamation of the Inangahua County with the Grey County was not in the best interests of the ratepayers. A petition should be circularised among ratepayers objecting strongly to the amalgamation, and thus assist the Council in the matter by presenting the petition to Parliament. Mr Cooper asked the Chairman if a ’copy of the Act was available for the information of the meeting. The Chairman read clauses of the Act to the meetjng. ' Cr". Watson considered that before the Government had proceeded 1 with amalgamation, it should have called a conference of local bodies and found out if local bodies were in favour of joining together. He felt that the Inangahua County had nothing to gain and everything to lose, by joining with Grey. The move was much too hasty. The people were not being considered, and a strong protest should be made against the move. He hoped the meeting would endorse the Council’s action. Mr O’Conncfr considered' fchat all the speakers had taken top much for granted. The Minister of Internal Affairs had stated that local bodies should amalgamate. The Inangahua County Council had not treated the unemployed fairly. They had not taken advantage of the Government housing scheme. He held that local County administration expenses were excessive Mi- Cleaver asked would the County have to accept the Grey system of rating or would the present system in Inangahua still hold.—The ’ Chair- ! man considered' that the Grey system ’ would hold if the amalgamation came into being. ■ Mr Porter thought that there was 1 no opportunity of rates decreasing; in fact, tliey would increase from 25 to 50 per cent. He considered that the country , would not be receiving any better service. Mr J. McElwee strongly opposed ! the amalgamation. Grey had not sup--1 ported' Inangahua in any way. Mr J. Patterson protested against amalgamation with Grey. He felt ■ that the County of Inangahua would lose much. Mr T. L. Bennett proposed that this meeting favour amalgamation with the Grey County.' ' Mr P. Coglan seconded. Theiandm U,tm-Sw ‘ seconded the motion, which was lost. The - Chairman considered that ■ County councillors should not be called on to wait on ratepayers with the petition. Mr Cooper considered that as stewards of the people it was the duty of councillors to do so. Mr Seawright volunteered to do the work. He also stated that he would take a counter-petition around. Mr J. McElwee moved and Mr W. J. Humphries seconded, that this meeting strongly protests against * any amalgamation with the Grey County or any contiguous county, and that a petition be circulated among ratepayers for signature. • The motion was carried by a good majority.