RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION.

Matamata Record, Volume XIII, Issue 1109, 27 March 1930, Page 7

RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION.

ELECTION OF PRESIDENT. Position Goes- Begging. When the election of officers of 1 the Putaruru Ratepayers’ Association was in progress Mr. J. W. Barr Brown, the president, intimated that owing to medical advice he would be unable to accept nomination for a further term. Mr. F. C. Barnett was then proposed for the position, but he declined, stating that pressure of business would prevent him from giving the office the attention it , needed. Mr. Root was then proposed, but this nomination also, met with a refusal, Mr. Root intimating that he thought the position called for one with more mature experience. Mr. H. W. Lindsay was then proposed, and this gentleman was sent for (he being at another meeting in an adjacent office) and was asked to accept the position. Mr. Lindsay stated that he had an open mind regarding the Town Hall proposal. As far as the recreation ground was concerned, the item involved was not a large one, and he was wholeheartedly in favour of it. In connection with the Town Hall, they had yet to know the facts of the matter, and when these were available they might alter the attitude of many of the who at present were opposed to the scheme. Mr. J. W. Barr Brown was of the opinion that Mr. Lindsay’s position need not be affected by his opinions regarding these matters. Mr. F. C. Barnett stated that it was at the ballot box that the ratepayers would decide the questions. Mr. Lindsay said he did not want people to think that as president he would be against the wishes of the, ratepayers. Mr. McDermott pointed out that the Town Board was not unanimous regarding the Town Hall. Mr. Harwood was proceeding to give his views on the subject of the hall when the chairman stated that the speaker was out of order in discussing the subject at length. On being asked if he would accept the position, Mr. Lindsay hesitated for several minutes, and then intimated that he would do so, but if at any time he felt that he was not able to work in harmony, with the ratepayers he would resign. Mr. Lindsay was then declared elected.