APPOINTMENT OF A DELEGATE

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXI, Issue LXII, 11 May 1912, Page 7

APPOINTMENT OF A DELEGATE

A meeting of representatives of local bodies within tlie Hawera and Patea Hospital Districts, to select a delegate to represent the district at the conference of local bodies' representatives to be held at Wellington' in connection -with the proposed Local Government >. Hill, was held at Hawera on Saturday. "•*' There were present representatives *of twenty different local bodies in the district, the Manaia Town Board being the only one not represented. Mr It. H. Nolan Avas chosen as chairman, and explained that the 21 local bodies contained within the boundaries of the two hospital districts were concerned with the election of one delegate to represent them at the conference in Wellington, and with that object each local body would be allowed -one vote at the present meeting. Mr Quin (Eltham County Council) •entered a protest against the proposed system of representation, considering that the appointment of one delegate lor the area affected could not be. entirely satisfactory, owing to the conflicting interests involved. Other speakers, agreed with this view, including Mr G: V. Pearce, M.P., but the latter pointed out that the matter had been fixed, and it was now too late to object. The Chairman said he thought the proper course would be to elect a delegate and then formulate a resolution 'of protest against the system of representation fixed upon by the Government; Mr Nolan haying declined nomination as the delegate, Mr J. T. Quin (i^ltham Coiinty Council) was tmanimously elected as "delegate to Wellington. Mr Quin, in returning thanks, expressed the opinion that with so many conflicting interests involved, the Bill -could not result in much but chaos. In many matters he was entirely opposed to the Bill, thoiigh in other matters s\ieh as the abolition of Road Boards, lie was in sympathy with it. As their delegate he would do his best at the •■conference in the interests of the whole concerned.

Mr G. V. Pearce claimed that the pi-oposed Bill was the production of an effete Government and was not agreeable to the majority of those concerned. The speaker adversely commented upon the from several aspects,^ and moved a/resolution that the local bodies in the ETawera and Patea districts are strongly opposed to the proposed Bill as it. appears before the delegates. The resolution was seconded by the Patea

-" Hospital Board's representative (Mr 0. ,; Several speakers traversed different Aspects of the proposed Bill, and, while some divergence of opinion was expressed concerning such matters as whether 6or not, or under Avhat conditions, Road Boards should be abolished, the general view expressed was that the Bill was unwieldy and not capable of being made .•» workable measure, and was lacking Tin the machinery necessary to carry the ipvorjosals into effect. Mr Pearce further mentioned that it liad time after time been iirged upon the Government that fair sized counties be constituted, and the number oi local bodies reduced, so as to provide for more economical administration, but the proposals contained in the present Bill could resiilt in nothing but chaos. The motion was carried unanimously, and Mr Barton subsequently proposed a resolution that the meeting is ! in favor of the introduction of a : wellconsidered ' Local Government Bill, -somewhat on the lines recommended to the Government by the Municipal and Conferences, and with a wellorganised constitution. Mr Gillies (Hawera Borough CouncilV was of opinion that the meeting should not go further than affirming the principle that any Local Government Bill -providing for combined representation of counties, boroughs and hospital and ' 'harbor boards could not be satisfactory. Mr Barton's motion was put and carried and fhe meeting terminated.