SITTING CONCLUDES

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 147, 6 June 1936, Page 8

SITTING CONCLUDES

Committee to Report to Department — “The ratepayers of the Rivers Board I district may depend upon it that the committee will give most careful consideration to all matters placed before it,” said Mr A. J. Baker, chairman of the Government Committee of Inquiry into Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board matters, at the conclusion yesterday afternoon of the three-day session. The committee will prepare a report, to be presented to the Department of Internal Affairs for consideration, and any alterations to the rating system, ward boundaries or ward representation in the rivers district will be made known at a later date. The session drew to a' conclusion at 3.30 o’clock yesterday afternoon, w'hen Mr J. Moiling, counsel for the Rivers Board, said to the committee; “I am sure everyone who has appeared before you would wish me to thank you for your patient and helpful hearing. In a rivers district with the vast and important. undertakings that are before the Hawke’s Bay Rivers Board, it is important that we should have the ratepayers behind us and also that any difficulties should be settled by an impartial and unbiased tribunal. There fore, I am sure that your conclusions, whatever they may be, will be to the benefit of the district.” Mr Morling’s remarks were endorsed by counsel for the Napier and Hastings Borough Councils, Messrs J. M. Runciman and H. 11. Holderness respectlee. iy“The committee appreciates the generous words spoken by Mr Morling and endorsed by Mr Runciman and Mr Holderness,” replied Mr Baker. “We have found the work very interesting. The ratepayers may depend upon it that the committee will give most careful consideration to all matters before it. “The committee feels that it has received the greatest of help from Mr Morling, on behalf of the Rivers Board, and I also wish to associate Mr Holderness and Mr Runciman with these remarks. W'e appreciate also that the Mayor of Hastings, Mr Maddison, mid the Mayor of Napier, Mr Morse, have given a lot of their time to us, as have the various witnesses who have come forward with their evidence.” In conclusion, Mr Baker thanked the Rivers Board for the valued assistance given during the inquiry, and the Hawke’s Bay County Co'.ineil for making its board room available.