No Council Gift To Plane Fund, But Members Give £70

Northern Advocate, 13 September 1940, Page 6

No Council Gift To Plane Fund, But Members Give £7O

Instead of donating £SO from the Whangarei county funds towards the Northland Plane Fund, councillors at the monthly meeting today made individual contributions totalling £7O.

Included in this amount was a cheque of £SO from Messrs Stephen Bros., of Waiotira. Mr A. Stephen represents the .Mangapai riding. It was pointed out that several councillors had already contributed individually to the fund. A motion proposing a donation by the council of £SO was put forward by the chairman (Mr J. A. S. Mac Kay). Not Council’s Duty. “I do not want it to be thought that I am unpatriotic or that I am opposed to a contribution to the fund, but we are dealing with the ratepayers’ money and I think it right and proper for ratepayers to give as they think fit and that it is not the council’s duty to contribute,” said Cr. T. N. Blake. He pointed out that the people were taxed for war purposes and, while he believed that they should support the fund, it was not for the council to donate money collected by rate for other purposes. The chairman: It is only that the council wants to do the right thing.

“I don’t think £SO is too much to give for such a case,” replied Cr. Blake.

“The same thing applies if the donation were only £l, as much as it does for £SO.

Opposed to Method

“I do not want it to be believed that I am not in sympathy with the fund. I am only opposed to the method of contribution.

“I am willing to give as much as any other member of the council, but we have had to keep rates down to a minimum to help ratepayers to meet their obligations and we cannot use that money for other purposes.” If such reasoning were carried to a conclusion it would mean that the council would not be able to contribute to an organisation, said Cr. R. Feaver.

The chairman: There is a good deal in what Cr. Blake says. The funds of the council are collected for a special purpose and the funds of the Army to the extent of £40,000,000 are collected for a purpose and none of that would be available for roading.

Round-Table Suggestion

Agreement with Cr. Blake’s contention was expressed by Cr. W. C. B. Powell, who said he would rather see the £SO collected from councillors round the table.

It was a. good and worthy cause and he personally would be glad to contribute.

By means of taxation the Government secured funds required for its purposes, said Cr. A. Clarke. He was willing to subscribe to a round-table donation.

While sympathising with Cr. Blake’s view, Cr. J. Morrison said that the donation proposed involved only a small amount and as a gesture from the council it was worthy of support. He considered, however, that it was more important to get every purpose working. Cr. F. Elliott said it was not a legitimate function of the council to make a donation out of council funds, but he did not intend to oppose the motion.

Smaller councils had given greater contributions.

Agreeing with the viewpoint of other councillors, Cr. A. Stephen said the cause was deserving and he favoured a collection around the table. The chairman: Some of the councillors have already contributed. Cr. Stephen: They would be exempt.

“You have moved a motion which it is difficult for us to oppose,” Cr. Blake told the chairman in suggesting that the motion might be withdrawn.

In view of the expression of opinion, the chairman withdrew the motion.

Some ridings would not be able to carry on to the end of the financial year, he said. Councillors then made their individual contributions, £7O being realised