TAHUNANUI AFFAIRS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 16 November 1937, Page 8

TAHUNANUI AFFAIRS

[To The Editorl Sir.—ln your Inst report of (ho Town I Board mooting in Tahunanui, the chair-j ■ man of the Board complains about the; Longue writing to the Board in re- j gard to matters of public interest. With some fervour he will ‘‘look up" some of the correspondence in regard to the League and trees. I would advise the chairman to look up the records of his administration and siwc others the trouble of writing it up in public for him. The background of the chairman’s j attack is the amalgamation committee. Last April the League by deputation I approached the Board suggesting the' formation of an amalgamation committee. In view of legislation approaching it was desirable that we be well equipped with information in case we had to support a ease at a commission. The fir 'tion of the committee was to interview the City Council and the County Council and get something definite as to our position if amalgamation took place either as a whole or in part. The next step was to place the information before the public so that they would be in touch with any of the salient features of the question. In short it was an investigation committee. The Board subsequently called a public meeting which the advertisement featured as ‘‘Amalgamation and Water supply.” There were over 70 people at that meeting and it was considered to be one of the most representative meetings that has been ht’.i in the district. This meeting elected a public committee to function as indicated. Later the Board appointed its two representatives, and the chairman by virtue of his office was chairman. We are now in the seventh month since that meeting was held and no meeting has been called together. The secretary of the League rang up the chairman of the Board and was met with the astonishing reply that "he was waiting to see what legislation was doing”—a reply that is about as appropriate to the facts of the committee as to suppose that the intellectual light of tlr> League was extinguished. Thus we have the frustration of the wishes of that representative meeting. The League later wrote the chairman and asked when he proposed to call the committee together and to this dale has not even had the courtesy of a reply from the chairman of a public body and in relation to public business. A member of the committee resident on the h‘U who asked for information as to when the committee would meet received a very curt reply. This is what masquarades as “representing the people.” It looks something like the Fascist dictatorship of the Totalitarian Stale of Tahunanui. It does show the stale of bankruptcy which exists in the public affairs of the district. The people are now to consider water reticulation, the appearance being that the people will consider what the chairman of the Board thinks fit and proper. What confidence can be maintained by the people when leadership fails to give expression to the wishes of the people and on the basis of supposed progress. We might even consider what kind of progress we are making at the present time. It will come as a surprise to most people to know how elections are conducted. At the last by-election the roll of ratepayers and residential voters could not be obtained intact. They were merely loose leaves and many missing. This explains the constant friction at election times. I do not blame anyone but the past administration for that circumstance. However, I do blame leadership for not complying with the law in keeping the roll up-to-date and adopting by resolution of the Board the roll when complete to make it a legal and valid document. Elections for some time past have not rested upon a statutory foundation. The public hall has always been a source of friction and irritating tactics, Not because of its inefficiency but the capacity of leadership involved in making it available to the public. Three times this year the League booked the hall, but on going for the key were told that the caretaker had no instructions, <n obtaining tb" key rested on the courtesy of the caretaker. When the Mayor was to speak at a League meeting tV ' hall was not open and someone had to run for the key. Some time ago a petition was signed by over 80 people asking that they join in with the County. It clearly shows dissatisfaction and these people are entitled to have expression of their viewpoint. At the last meeting of the League a document was received which had been authorised about six weeks before. An analysis of correspondence was made and no doubt the Board members present will have sufficient data to analyse the position of the Board. In regard to the proposed penny in the slot phone box. It is almost two years since we first wrote to the Board suggesting that application be made for the facility. For quite a long period our request was ignored although latterly it is possible the amenity will come. The roads are in advanced decay and cannot conform to modern requirements with the available revenue of the Town District. The water scheme as published is a partial scheme having some makeshift characteristics and will involve further loan money as Mr Bisley’s and other areas become populated. The Board will also have to increase staff. The district wants water but I would not go one metre to bring it into being under the present conditions. The tunnel contract is for two and a-half years and we have ample time to make the necessary adjustments I to bring the scheme under competent control.—l am, etc., GEORGE BLAKE. Tahunanui, 13th November.