HEREKINO

Northland Age, Volume 18, Issue 14, 6 January 1921, Page 4

HEREKINO

MORE TROUBLE At the recent meeting held at Herekino the Chairman, Mr. LeCoustre, reported that himself and others had presented the petition to Mr. T. S. Houston asking him to resign from the Mangonui County Council as he had not received a vote of the majority of the ratepayers. Mr. Houston had refused to do so saying that he did not care for the wishes of the Herekino ratepayers. Mr. LeCoustre further reported that a deputation consisting of Mr. R. Rowe, Mr. Old, Mr. W Vickers, and himself, had attended a meeting of the County Council when the Financial Statement put forward by the County Treasurer showing a deficit of £ 10,000 was adopted by the Council on a vote of five to two, Crs. Houston and Matthews voting against. During the discussion it was elicited that the financial position of the Council was even worse than disclosed ! by Colonel Bell in his statement, and that | the Council had been forced to turn down | some £16,000 of Government grants { through having no money in hand. Alj though Cr. Houston still attempted to deny the truth of the financial statement it was quite clear to everyone that it was unfortunately only too true. It was also seen that the Council had practical i financed itself with the assistance of a number of joint and several guarantee . only one of which had been signed by Cr Houston and this was insisted on by Cr Long. Messrs. Rowe and Vickers corroborated the Chairman’s statement and the meeting expressed great dissatisfaction with the state of affairs and dis.apointment at the attitude adopted by Cr. Houston, and especially of the fact that he was constantly at war with his colleagues and the staff. Mr. LeCoustre moved that a meeting of | ratepayers be called for the purpose ot 1 forming a Ratepayers Association to loot 1 after the interests of the Herekino R :• ing. ! This meeting was held on Dec. 15th, ! and was well attended, and on the motion i of Mr. R. Rowe, seconded by Mr Garble, j it was decided to form the Association, j with Mr. W. Vickers as President, Mr, | LeCoustre as Vice-President, and an to, i ecutive of nine. . ; It was decided to support the County ; j Council in its proposal to raise a £25,100 ; loan to meet the financial difficulty, and | dissatisfaction was expressed at the statement made by Cr. Houston that he would combat the loan and advise his ratepayer! : to turn it down. It was decided to en «► 5 deavour to arrange withsettlersinterested 1 to finance the subsidised Government ' grants and to carry out the work them- ; selves. Mr. LeCoustre suggested that the ‘ I County Chairman be asked to further ex- ‘ | plain the financial position to obviate any ' further attempt that might be made by J j Cr. Houston to mislead the ratepayers as I to the true financial position. a On the motion of Mr. Powell, seconded ' by Mr. ICunivich, the Secretary was instructed to write to the County Council stating that the Puwhata settlers were - prepared to find £SO to take up the sube sidy on the Puwhata road and get the n work done at once. r On the motion of Mr. R. Rowe, sec. c onded by Mr. Grbich, it was decided to inf struct the Secretary to write to the County Council notifying them that the Herekino 5 ratepayers do not recognise Mr. T. S. y Houston as their member and desire L ! do their business -through the Council j direct until they get representation, and e that in the meantime they refuse to pay their rates. t It was also decided to ask the Hospital Board what had become of the mShcy j subscribed at Herekino, some £SO, for a v Nurses Home, which amount should bear _ Government subsidy.