MEETING OP RATEPAYERS AT TAKAPUNA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8090, 3 November 1887, Page 6

MEETING OP RATEPAYERS AT TAKAPUNA.

On Taeaday evening a meeting was held at the Lake Schoolhouse for the purpose of hearing the views of the candidates for a seat at the Waitemata County Council. Mr. W. H. Shakespear, chairman of the Road Board, presided. Mr. Alison said, as he understood it, the object of the meeting was to hear the views of the candidates, and he would ask whether the Chairman was a candidate. The Chairman said he was aware that a requisition asking him to be a candidate was being signed, but it had not been presented. He had called the meeting as chairman of the Hoad Board. So far, there were but two candidates, and Mr Alison being their oldest representative he had given him the point of honour in asking him to express his views first. If he (the chairman) stood for election, he would vacate the chair, and allow the meeting to elect their own chairman.

After some discussion, Mr. Shakespear left the chair, and Mr. Shea was elected on the motion of Mr. Alison, seconded by Mr. Mackay. Mr. Shea asked Mr. Alison, aa the sitting member, to express his views. Mr. Alison said that during the time he had been their representative he could look back with satisfaction to his own actions, and that of the County Council. There was an idea that they should have a local representative, but there ware few who had more general knowledge of the district than himself. He referred to the action of Mr Shea and himself in getting a good road made round the Lake, which they secured by diplomacy, by securing a large portion of the county funds for the purpose. As to Mr. Mays, bis services were the cheapest any public body could obtain, and in one or two matters alone be had saved more than his salary, and it would be a loss to the county if ho was not retained. (" No, no.") They were strong opponents when elected, but the services which Mr. Mays rendered were the cheapest ever possessed by the province. (" No, no.") Then the question for them was were they fairly represented? ("No, no.") There was no portion of the county that had received so much of the county revenue. Let them look at their road, tho finest in the province; could they then say they were not represented ? He pointed out that they could not fight against existing Acts. They could not merge county councils into road boards, nor did he think it advisable, for tho county system was necessary for the good government of the county. The Hospital and Charitable Aid Board absorbed a sixth of the rates, and the object of their representative must be to reduce expenditure. He would go in for as small an expenditure as possible for the reduction of taxation consistent with the maintenance of the main roads and other requisite works. Six years ago the County Council had a debit of £6000, and now it had a credit of nearly a like amount, and that was eminently satisfactory, and it was due to tho chairman and the assistance which he, Mr. Alison, had accorded him that this was so. If re-elected, as he bad served them well in the past, he should try to do so in the future, and from his associations with them in the past, and his knowledge of their requirements, he was confident they could not elect one better acquainted with their interests, or one giving a more intelligent vote to conserve their interests.

Mr. Harrow said he had prepared a paper or requisition, and asked whether Mr. Alison had said that all those who signed it were bankrupts. Mr. Alison said he never made that statement to Mr. Harrow, bat what he said to him was true.

A general discussion then ensued, Mr. Harrow and Mr. Jervis interjecting a number of statements, and the latter attempting to import personal grievances against Mr. O. Mays, the Chairman of the County Council. The Chairman threatened to leave the chair unless order was kept. Mr. Maokay said he had been their representative for many years, and his endeavour was to get the rates reduced. As to abolishing the county, that was out of the question, but their taxation could be reduced by abolishing the road boards and reducing the county rates. He looked on the Shoal Bay scheme at first as wild and impracticable, especially as it provided that the settlers should be taxed for it. Devonport was their natural outlet, and if the Shoal Bay channel was made it would in two years be blocked out of existence.

Mr. Harrow presented a requisition to Mr. Shakespear, asking him to become a candidate. It was signed by 44 ratepayers. Mr. Shakespear then addressed the meet* ing. Ho was in favour of the Shoal Bay channel or Boylan and Lundon'a scheme, but objected to any onus being thrown on the residents. If elected he would propose tbat a statement be obtained from each riding as to their wants for twelve months, and from these the rates should bo struck, making provision of course for charitable aid and the costs of the office; also, that a schedule be given of tho expenditure in each riding witti the annual statement. Mr. Shakespear then proceeded to point out the utility of Road Boards, as being more accessible and conversant with the wants of t'ue ratepayers. At the conclusion of his address Mr. Shakespeare proposed that the beat thanks of this meeting be accorded to Messrs. Alison ftnd Maya for their services to the district in the past. hey would not be doing thoir duty if they did not thank those gentlemen for what they had done. Messrs. Harrow and Jemyb noisily objected to the proposition, but it was seconded by Mr. O'Neil. Some confusion took place, after which the Chairman spoke of his knowledge of Mr. Mays for the last quarter of a century, and the assistance he had afforded the district when it had few to help it. As a colleague of Mr. Alison in the County Council, he (the Chairman) could say that none could strive more than he did (or the interests of the district.

When the motion was being put, Messrs. Harrow and Jervis interrupted, and when Mr. Mays rose to reply, they again inter rupted, and objected to his being heard, and Mr. Harrow proposed a vote oi thanks and confidence in Mr. Shakespear. Mr. Shakehpeak, in a gentlemanly and dignified manner, asked Mr. Harrow to sit down, and said he would not submit to such an insuit, even from those who professed to be his frieuda, as that they should oppose the motion for a vote of thanks which he had proposed. Mr. Knox also protested against these unseemly proceedings. Mr. Mays, after a reference to tho conduct of some in the meeting as a disgrace which should be repudiated by tho meeting, defended the action of Mr Alison and himself in the county, especially iu having this electorate formed severed from Northootc and Birkenhead. One effect of this would be that the local option vote expired in twelve mouths, and the ratepayers would then be called on to answer the question whether they would have a publichouse in their district. They were the only people that should decide, and the power to do so was placed in' their hands by Mr Alison and ninmelf. He was not standing for election, although he had requisitions from three ridingd, nor was he here to influence the election ; but he advisod them, when they eleoted a member, to support him, aud not listen to overy misrepresentation regarding him. | 'Chat was the curse of New Zaaland, and j the reason why good men would not coino forward to represent them was be I cause they were met with abuso aud calumny, I Just let them imagine a riding with half-a-dozen Harrows and Jervis's in it. ("Oh! oh I") Why, six such men could hound down any man. He, then referred to the important functions of the County Council, and suggested that a committee should be elected for each riding with the member for the riding as chairman, and to them should be entrusted all small works in their districts, and this would meet the want justly pointed out by Mr. Shakespeear, audit would obviate the cost of Road Boards. Mr. Alison also returned thanks, and said the Shoal Bay scheme was an absurdity, 1 and if elected he would oppose it. Mr. Knox then moved, "That in the opinion of this meeting the unseemly conduct indulged in by some present does not meet with the countenance of the ratepayers," and he asked the ratepayers to record their sense of disapprobation of the conduct of Messrs. Jervis and Harrow. Mr. John Botoe seconded the motion, and ii was supported by Mr. Wallace and carried in spite of Mr. Jervis's efforts to obtain a hearing. A vote of thanks to the Chairman was then carried, and the meeting terminated.