SHANNON

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 63, 10 February 1933, Page 12

SHANNON

(Fnom Our Own Correspondent.)

SHANNON, Feb. 9. At tho Borough Council meeting on Tuesday evening tho council resolved to support tho borough of Newmarket’s protest against tho provision of the Municipal Corporations Bill, 1932. It was said in the letter to tho council that forcible annexation measures should bo resisted to the uttermost, as once the rights of any section of the people in the matter of self-determ-ination are infringed, no local authority in the Dominion would be safe. If the present proposals became law, the next step would be in the direction of bringing the smaller boroughs under county control, so that although municipalities might occupy an isolated position geographically at tho moment, they were just as vitally interested in' the proposal as the suburban authorities. Objections to the Bill were: (1) That it will not promote economy in administration; (2) that it will placo a further load on the already overburdened ratepayer by tho addition of increased rates and charges; (3) that it is contrary to the right of local self-government and repugnant to the spirit of democracy and fair play. Replying to tho council’s representations for an increase in the allocation to local unemployed, Mr J. Linklater, M.P., said that he had interviewed thp Minister with regard to the matter, and he had promised to give it his careful consideration. Mr Linklater said this protest was general throughout New Zealand and country members had been urging the Minister to give more consideration to country towns and small boroughs, so far as unemployment moneys wero concerned. Mr H. £. Holland, M.P., replying on the same matter, said he would be pleased to render the member for the district all possible assistance when ho moved on behalf of tho unemployed at Shannon. The conditions existing in his own electorate in relation to relief work, said Mr Holland, wero practically the same as those which prevailed in Shannon, and his efforts to secure a better rate of remuneration and more satisfactory conditions generally for the men in. tho Buffer district had not, so far, mot with any material success. The Labour Party during the past two years had been constantly endeavouring to securo a greater measure of relief for the unemployed throughout New Zealand, and efforts in this direction would not be in any way relaxed.

A pest which is becoming a grave inenaco in the district is tho white butterfly. Mrs A. H. Morgan, president of the Shannon Croquet Club, is playing in the Manawatu croquet tourney and local club members are following her games with much interest.

Mrs Mason, of Wellington, is staying with her son, Mr A. Mason, Vance Street. Mrs L. J. Mark, who sprained her ankle while . playing tennis against Fox-ton on Saturday week last, is making satisfactory progress. The Municipal Association Conference is to bo held at Rotorua in March and the Borough Council has four remits appearing on tho order paper: —That the Government be "requested to fix a minimum age limit fori people to enter billiard saloons, which shall be applicable to the Dominion as a whole; that the Government be further urged to.bring down legislation abrogating the effect of the decision in tho caso of tho Mayor of Inglewood v. the King., and placing all State lending departments in tho same position as other mortgagees in regard to local body ratos levied on mortgaged premises; that the Rating Act bo amended to give local authorities pow-er to refuse to alter the valuation roll in cases whore property has boon sold, until all the rates on the property have been paid, this provision to apply to Crown properties; to ensure a uniform standard of values in a borough and so save both Government and ratepayers unnecessary expense in assessment courts, an owner’s representative be appointed to act in conjunction with tho Government valuer. . Mr G. Wood, who in 1915 was in charge of the local Presbyterian Church, was a visitor to Shannon on Wednesday on his way to Huntorvillo whore ho has been appointed to tho Presbyterian Church. The Bowling Club championship pairs have commenced. Instead of the two lifo system as in previous seasons, all players moet in “Yankoo tourney” style.