ADVANCE THORNDON

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11295, 22 August 1922, Page 7

ADVANCE THORNDON

RATEPAYERS ASSOCIATION NEEDS OF DISTRICT BEING NEGLECTED. “NO PAROCHIALISM.’’ Feeling that the needs of their district are not being adequately attended to by the City Council, a number of Thorndon ratepayers assembled at the Sydney street Schoolroom last evening to discuss a proposal for the formation of a strong protective organisation. Mr A. J. Curtis, one of the convenors, who was appointed to the chair, explained that it was proposed to form a non-political association to protect the interests of the ratepayers. That portion of the city from the Post Office northwards had been neglected in several important matters, and it was hoped, by the formation of an active association, to promote those interests and combat certain evil influences. NO PAROCHIALISM.

Councillor H. D. Bennett said he thought the move was a wise one. So long as the association was non-politi-cal, and did not take up a parochial attitude, he thought it would prove successful and beneficial. Councillors were only human, and, naturally, obeyed the behests of suburban bodies formed for the purpose of keeping the council alive to the wants of their districts. He agreed that Wellington North did not receive the attention from the City Council that it merited. The council had so much to do that it did not know where to turn, and the only way to get improvements effected was to be continually on the doorstep. Referring to the controversy over the new tramway route, Councillor Bennett said that, unless a voice was raised by the citizens in respect to such matters, the council would have no indication of their views. The council was prepared to give concessions in regard to cheaper faxes, but file question was how far to burden the finances by providing cheaji facilities. Provision had been made in the 1920 loan schedule for the erection of salt water and tepid baths. £2OOO of that money had already been expended, and an amount of about £IO,OOO remained, awaiting the day when the people of Thorndon would indicate whether they wanted batho in their district or not. Reserves and roads in the Thorndon area required attention, and an active body was needed in the district to represent such wants to the City Council. He assured the meeting the city councillors would welcome such an association, which, he was sure, would benefit not only Thorndon but the city as a whole. A NEGLECTED DISTRICT. Councillor M. F. Luckie said that never in his experience of the City Council had any representations been made on behalf of Thorndon by a properly representative body, and there could be no doubt that the district had been neglected for want of an authoritative and representative organisation. s Mr 0/ A. Lawrence formally moved that an organisation be formed to bo known as the Wellington North Ratepayers’ Association. In seconding the motion, Mr H. F. O’Leary said he disliked sectionalism and parochialism, but in order to obtain legal rights it was necessary to adopt to some extent an attitude of parochialism. He stressed the need for the widening of Molesworth street, which had become one of the main outlets at the northern end of the city, and which oould be easily widened on one side. The motion was carried. A DISSENTIENT VOICE. Dr W. H. Herbert was the only dis sentient. He thought it was a great mistake to encourage parochialism. The more one district fought against another the less progress would he made. It would he better for all the suburban bodies to combine to work unitedly for the advancement of the city as a whole. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. Officers were elected as follows: Patron, the member for the district (Sir John Luke, M.P.); president, Mr H. F. O’Leary; vice-presidents, Mr O. A. Lawrence and A. W. Newton; seo rotary, Mr G. S. McClure; treasurer, Mr Toomath; executive committee, Messrs R. D. Hanlon, J. Myers, J. S. Swan, H. D. Bennett, M. F. Luokie, •A. J. Curtis, S. Haroourt, W. Gregg, G. Scott, E. Archibald, E. P. Levin, R. W. Shallcrass, 0. Stewart, and Dr Herbert.

The membership subscription for the first year was fixed at 6s.