COUNTY TOWNSHIP

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 59, Issue 4286, 31 May 1950, Page 7

COUNTY TOWNSHIP

WHANGAMATA EAGER 100 ATTEND MEETING THAMES COUNCIL DECISION “I met members of the Whangamata Settlers’ and Ratepayers’ Association last week concerning the proposed Whangamata county township, and told them that as far as I could judge no objections from the Thames County Council would be raised to the formation of a township,” said the chairman, Mr D. Courtney, to the May meeting of the council, held last week. “I told them that if they took the necessary steps and sent in their petition no doubt it would receive favourable consideration- They are now endeavouring to obtain sufficient sig'* natures to warrant the petition.” This subject was discussed last week as the result of a letter received by the council from the association, requesting its approval and assistance in (putting the proposed! plan into effect, and expressing disapproval that members of the council had not paid an expected visit to Whangamata to discuss the project. Amazed and Disappointed “The ratepayers at a special meeting on April 8, when the proposal was decided on, were amazed and bitterly disappointed that the district had not been visited by your chairman the week prior to the meeting, as promised, and also they were disappointed at the absence of the riding member, Mr J. R. McCall,” th*e letter stated. “Although Mr McCall telegraphed an apology for his absence on account of his car requiring repairs, it was felt that a special effort should have been made by, him to meet the large number of ratepayers assembled at this end of his riding.’ “Does this mean that Whangamata is severing its connections with us?” asked Cr. E. G. Clark. The chairman explained that this was not correct, although it would give them the right to strike their own rate up to an extra 3d for expenditure in their own district, the object being that instead of charging farmlands with extra rates for the development of the township, the township would be charged for its development. Mr Courtney said that 50' per cent of the settlers had to agree to the proposal before the petition could be sent in. Even then the last word was with the council, which, if it did not think the proposal suitable, could reject it. However, he had told the association it would receive favourable consideration.

If this proposal was put into operation it did not give Whangamata the power to collect or dispose of the funds, said the county clerk, Mr J. F. Eames. It meant that an advisory committee would be appointed by the council, and this committee would be the mouthpiece between the ratepayers of Whangamata and the council. At the special meeting, when the resolution was passed that the meeting of ratepayers was in favour of the constitution of a county township, in terms of the Counties’ Amentment Act, 1949, close on 190 ratepayers were present.

The meeting instructed its secretary to write to the council to ask for a copy of the roading specifications for the Whangamata area and the names of ratepayers.