"SOME PLAIN SPEAKING.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8921, 9 September 1905, Page 5

"SOME PLAIN SPEAKING.

RATEPAYERS' MEETING AT jNOR-

MANBY

COUNTY CUUXCIL EXPENDITURE DISCUSSED.

"WHERE HAS THE MONEY GONE?' 1

In response to an advertisement in the Stah convening a meeting to consider the matter of the expenditure by the County Council of the money accruing for rates a dozen settlers from the vicinity of Normanby and Okaiawa met in the premises lately known as the Imperial Hotel on Friday afternoon The meeting was advertised to commence at half-past one o'clock, but it was about three before a start was made. Mr Inkster moved, That Mr A. Alexander take the chair, and by general consent this was carried.

Mr Inkster. the convenor, said that his object in calling the meeting was to have three or more gentlemen appointed investigators to go into the question of county expenditure^ a n <J he' suggested Messrs Goodland. Alexander and P. Burr as beina suitable.. He 'moved accordingly. '•There are lots ol things we want sifted out." said Mr Inkster. "We want to know the full amount of the county } s debt, the amount paid to the clerk,, the foreman's salary, what the members of the Council draw, what has been paid for advertising, for day labor a.nd for contract works, who measures the stone and gravel carted for the county, the full amount of the money spent in each riding during the last two years, and the amount squandered in law costs during the last three years. Then we should also know what it cost for the labor and cement that was thrown away in the Waingongoro river, and if the ratepayers are liable for the heavy overdraft at the bank. To investigate the matter thoroughly," concluded Mr Inkster, "who ever are appointed will need to go to the county office ant) gc through all the books and papers relating to these matters." Immediately Mr Inkstei conclud.e.4 Mr Goodland rose and said he must ask that his name be taken off the list of the suggested investigators and someone be appointed in his stead, as he did not feel sure that after going through the books of the county as suggest-ed he could comfc to any conclusion as to how matters stood. Though he asked that his name be withdrawn Mr Goodland wished it understood that^he did not want to throw cold water on the movement.

Mr Inkster said that it would be no great task, to act as one of the investigators, and it would call for no special qualifications, as the County Clerk, he felt sure, would supply any information.

Mr Goodland then said that besides not feeling competent he would point out that he was a very small ratepayer — the smallest in the room. As to getting assistance from" the clerk, Mr Goodland considered that Mr Budge was courtesy itself. Mr Goodland said the meeting should be thrown open to see if any suggestions were forthcoming. They had all heard Mr Inkster's tow's but perhaps someone there would like to present a. different view. Mr Gane asked Mr Inkster to state precisely the origin of the reference he made to cement thrown away in the Waingongoro. "Mr Inkster replied that a quantity of cement had been put into the river above a certain defective bridge neaT Te Roti. and the first flood that came along washed it all away. Mr Inkster, while speaking of this bridge, said th.it application should be made to the Minister for Public Works to see if he would have the goodness to send one of his engineers to inspect and report on it. If the bridge we>re allowed to go much longer it might cost the ratepayers the nice little scan of £700. Mr Burr was very reluctant to ( act on the committee of investigation, but was strongly of opinion that the matters should be gone deeply into. "We _ are Tated above any of the other ridings, he remarked, but Mr Gocdla.nd corrected him. a.nd stated that with the exception of Mokoia aH me Tidings were rated the same. . Mr Burr said that, the increase in the rating was astonishing. When he came to the district 10 years ago his rates camp to £13 10s a year and after a while they were risen to £24 yearly, and then all of a 6iul<len they were jumped up to £43. ••Really," said Mr Burr, "I want to know where the money has gone." , Others present, gave similar instances of liig increases in the amounts they paid foT rates.

Mr Gane : We have got to pay our Tates a.nd so long as we get value we should be satisfied. But. where has the money crone? ' . . Mr Inkster: Well. I think it's a miniature Panama Canal swindle. He made reference to loads of gravel which, he alleged, the Council had been paying for. but weTe never delivered. He said that when he was on the Bond Board, and also when he was in the employ of a. similar body in Tasmania, he personally measured the Toads of boulder stone and gravr-l delivered by contractors as he knew from practical experience that foremen woro liable to be bribed by contractors. He also remarked that there were men on the Council that some people would not. employ as shoe-blacks. Regarding the land valuation, Mr Inkster said that the land was valued by a man who had never seen the land, and the Council rated on this fraudulent valuation. "We must see to this, too/ he added. He then went into the matter of certain law costs incurred by the Council, and which did not meet with his approval. Referring to the recent by-law cases (in which, it might ho stated, judgment has not- yet been delivered), he asserted that- he wrote to the County Clerk to the effect that the by-laws were unsound, and the Council therefore had no case. The clerk, he said, admitted this, but still, proceedings were taken, and it was plain to the speaker that if the Magistrate held the same views as the Chief Justice the Council had not a ghost of a show of winning the cases.

Mr Gane, probably referring to the proposed Waimate county movement, said that other people were trying to form new counties, and if they (people about Normaiiby and Okaiawa) were alowed to form a new county they could put up toll gates, which, he thought wa6 the fairest means of rating' that was ever in use as the people who used the roads paid the taxes. Mr InksteT said they had formed in Normanby an association called "The Road, Rate, and Land Tax Payers' Association" — membership 2s — and the resolution he was about to move emanated from that Association. The following was the resolution: "That all day labor be abolished throughout the Hawera and Okaiawa ridings of the Hawera county."

The Chairman (Mr Alexander) asked Mr Inkster how he proposed the roads should be kept in repair if day labor was abolished.

"By contract," replied Mr Inketer. "The work should be done by contract," he repeated, "and competent men put to supervise it." Mr Gano : How do you propose to do the grading ? Mr Inkster : By contract, too. Mr Gane : Then I'm not with you there. It will be observed that there were now two resolutions before the meeting, neither of which had been seconded.

Mr Uoodland said that tlwy >%••• beginning the moetinc under what might be termed false pretences. A committee 6hou!d have been formed that would have gone into the matter and confronted the meeting with fact 6 and figures. It. was all noneonse Mr Inkster getting them to attend and then <'isking ( thorn a lot ol questions. As far as he (Mr (.Toodland) cnuld see no good would rjesult from the

meeting.

Mt inkster explained that his object in calling the meeting wae to have a committee set up to go into the matter and get these "facts and figures. " Mr Gane said he did not see how the meeting could pass the resolution relating to the abolition of day labor. This remark met general approval. At this juncture Mr Goodland was asked to frame what he thought a feasible resolution but reminded the meeting that besides being the smallest ratepayer in the room he had no grievance and theret_ fore he considered someone else should move. ~J

One gentleman thought there had been great unfairness in the way the money had been speait on the Turuturu road.~; This Toad runs from the GloveT road to the Austen road. He doubted if there had! been £30 spent on tins Toad, and yet there; miust have been thousands of pounds dxayraj from the lajid about tha* (14x17 he then repeated tlie oft heard query,; "Where has the money gone?" -- .*" Mr Sowerby sakl this \va6 a striking- Instance of the grievances of the people.; Quite a large number of milk carte and other vehicles were daily passing over"" this road, and yet. it was allowed to remain' in such a. state that- it could well be called " a sea of mud "

Others present- made similar remarks concerning other localities. - - Mr Inkster : Well, if you put practical men on the Council, yon will have your interests looked after.

Mr IJansen : We have the county elections coming on soon, and our only remedy" is to put representatives on the Council who will look after our interests

Messrs Goodland and Bftrr. who had a short time previously left the room together, at ihi? stage ef tie meeting- to-. turned, and Mr Burr moved, "That "a committee of six be appointed to consider the grievances and difficulties, and,, meet the County Council at a future date, the committee to be, Messrs A. Alexander, Goodland, C. Hawken. J. T. Qxiin; W. Hnneen and P. Burr.

The Chairman then asked Mr Inkster if he would withdraw his resolutions 'Mr Inkster said he would

1 Mr Goodland again asked that his name be omitted from the proposed committee! He had no grievance with the Council; "and therefore was not the man to have on the committee. I<\s far as he knew he could not put his hand on anything the Council had done and done wrongly. It. was pointed out to Mr Goodland that he would be a groat acquisition to" the committee, but he remained obdurate, and his name was eventually struck off. Then there was the problem of replacing him. Mr Goodland " suggested thatthere were able men not present at the meeting who might be ind\iced to act on the committee. Several of those present were asked to consent to nomination, but all refused., the excuse in most cases being that they did not consider themselves well enough up in the matters to be dealt with to do justice to those who placed them" there. Mr Gane was asked and consented, but finally it was discovered that I ' Mr Sowerby had liecn overlooked, and it "was decided that his name be added. I

The resolution was then put and carried without dissent. -I

Votes of thanks for the use of the room and ro the Chairman were passed, and the meeting then rose.

From what could be learned at the meeting it is probable that the committee of investigation will wait on the Council next. mom hi. !