HINUERA.

Matamata Record, Volume VI, Issue 433, 3 May 1923, Page 3

HINUERA.

Last week Messrs. W. J. Pohlen ind A. J. Davies, who are candidates ':or the Matamata and Tc Poi ridings it the county council elections, addressed a meeting of ratepayers at the Hinuera hall. Mr. It. Hawke was in the chair. Mr. J. Pohlen, who was the first speaker, criticised the Works Committee, contending the business of the Council would ,be far better done by the Council as a whole than by a committee. He contended that a printed statement of accounts showing the rates collected and the amount expended in each riding should be issued. lie said that during the past two or- three years the expenses had increased enormously but the roads were in a shocking condition. The ratepayers were not getting value for their money. Mr. A. J. Davies spoke strongly on the condition of the roads, which he characterised as a standing disgrace. He contended that the grader should be more generally used. In • one locality it hud not been used twice in 17 years. Tf the grader was kept continuously in use the roads would not get into the bad state they arc now. He advocated the employment of a surfaceman. It was said that every riding had a crc.l't balance. Whilst this was pleasant information he thought it would be better for the ratepayers-if the money., was spent judiciously in keeping the roads in repair. Ho condemned the works committe system and urged its abolition. In reply to a question Mr. Pohlen said he had never approved of the nurchase of the. crushing plant by the Council and believed it had been a burden to the ratepayers. At the conclusion of the meeting a vote of confidence in the speakers was carried. The chairman stated that he had been in communication with the county clerk respecting the procedure to have a poll taken with a view to testing the feelings of the ratepayers regarding the present system of rating. He considered that the present rating system on capital value was inequitable and unjust and that rating should be on the unimproved value of properties. The clerk had replied that a petition signed by 15 per cent, of the vatepaeyrs of the county is minimi for a poll to be taken. A resolution was carried unanimously that a petition be accordingly drawn up and placed in suitable centres for signature.