STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL ALARMED.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 18 August 1911, Page 5

STRATFORD COUNTY COUNCIL ALARMED.

At the meeting of the Stratford County Council on Wednesday a petition urging the building of the Opunake railway was received from the clerk of the Normanby Town Board (says the Post), a request being made that the petition be signed and returned.

The Chairman (Mr Marchant) said he had attended the Kapuni meeting as the County's representative. There was an alteration in the preamble to the petition which he did not like. The preamble spoke of the signatories only as being electors of Egmont and Patea, and he did not like the color which the omission of Stratford gave the matter. The making of a railway from Opunake to the main line at Stratford was of the utmost importance to the whole" of the Straford elecorate,1 and he saw no reason why they should be left out out of the preamble and asked to sign the petition. He was an elector in Egmont, but was at the tables as a coun. cillor of the Stratford County. He could not understand how the omission occurred. It might have been done accidentally, but it might have been done purposely to give the matter a color which at the Kapuni meeting it was expressly desired to keep out of it. The Council should walk very warily in the matter, and should keep its hands free to advocate its own route. He thought the Town Board should be informed that the Council objected to the preamble as it differed so much from the decision arrived at at the Kapuni meeting. He moved that as the Stratford electorate had been omitted the Council did not see its way to sign the petition. Cr Marfell^ suggested that the better way to put it would be to say that ii1 Straford were included he Council would have pleasure in supporting the petition.

Gr Asttmry moved, and Cr Marfell Seconded: "Thnt the petition be acknowledged, and that the Clerk of the Town Board be informed that if Stratford electorate is included in the preamble the Council will be willing to support the petition." Cr Walter said it should be mad© clear that it was desired to have Stratford inserted in all the petitions issued. It would be of no use if only the petition forwarded to the Council were altered.

The Chairman said it was understood that that was the idea.

Cr Walter then drew attention to the inconvenience which might be caused thereby. People who had signed the petition as issued might say that they had done so under the impression that Stratford was not. to be included. Cr Astbury: If they choose to stultify themselves by a foolish action that is their own fault.

The motion was carried

The Chairman then moved: "That in the event of the foregoing resolution not being given effect to the attention of Messrs Dive, Hine, Jennings, and Okey, Ms.P. be drawn to the significant omission."

This was also carried,