MORNINGTON RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13665, 7 August 1906, Page 2

MORNINGTON RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

The regular meeting of the Mornington R-ll.opayers' Association was held in the Mornington ( Public Library lust evening, when there were some dozen gentlemen present Ml' John Wood occupicd the chair. THE BOROUGH COrNCIL. Tile Town Clerk. Borough of Mornington. wrote in reply to a communication received from the association in regard to one of the engine-drivers receiving a lmnus. and conveying a motion passed by I lie association. In reply, the Town Cleric stated that the council did not recognise the association as a. body, and any ralepayer ivlio desired information could obtain it in the ordinary way from the town clerk during office hours.—The latter was received, Mr Mnodio stating that it would appear that the council did not intend to receive anything from the asso-

ciation in any othor spirit, but that, indicated. which was not, verv courteous. He thought the difficulty might be surmounted and the association got redress by 30 ratepayers forming a queue and interviewing the town clerk. No doubt, the council was quite within its rights in the stand it took.

The Chairman was proceeding to call for tho next business when Mr ManU asked if nothing was going to bo done regarding the "snub" lately administered to the association by tho council, lie would move—"That, as it was the council's avowed intention to ignore the status of the association and belittle its inflnenco with the ratepayers, this association resolves to cease all correspondence with the council in its corporate capacity, and iu future to convey tho complaints, grievances. and remonstrances of its members by direct, personal representation, in accordance with tho act. of 1900."

Several of those present expressed tho opinion lliat the wording of the motion was rather "strong." The Chairman agreed that, in passing such a resolution the association would bo guilty of bad laste. He .thought the association should try to work amicably wilh tho council in the interests of tho ratepayers, of whom the association was a minority. Mr Mantz's motion was raising a question which was hardly disclosed in tho council's letter of July 12. A precedent had already been set tip by tho City Council in regard to ratepayers' associations by it not recognising tho Dunodin Association.

Mr Mant?. said that, for the last two yeai'3 all the answers received from the council had boon snubs. If the association was not prepared to go as far as ho suggested lie would have to undertake tho matter on bis own instigation.

said he thought tho resolution wn6 in oriior, but that the phrase referring to belittling the association should bo deleted. On a vote being taken the motion was carried by 12 voles to 7. Mr Moodie: I think it is a pity, all the same. MAItTHIU EXTENSION' LINE. Mr Moodie said ho thought tho ratepayers had been treated most discourteously as far as the Mary hill extension line was concerned. He had seen tho car suspended in what ho thought was a dangerous position on the line with posters on the windows referring to fares, but there was absolutely no intimation as to how long the ear was to be stopped. He considered that the Maryhill line had been consistently starved ever since tho council had had control of it. They were stuck up now for a. rope, and but for tins accident more would have been heard of tho in'atter. Another matter for grievaneo lay in tho fact that the rails had been taken up on the main line and sold, when t-hcy should have been laid on tho extension line.

Aflor some discussion, Mr Simon moved— "Tint (his association regrets tliat the Maryhill tram lias boon discontinued from running, and considers that somcono has blundered by not looking ahead so that ft ropo might havo been to hand when required, thus saving the extra cost of a ropo which lias been bought locally, as well as loss of revenue from fares."

O Anderson said tho passing of such a resolution would not either do good or harm. He would say that tho damaged ropo bad been a most inferior one, while good things bad been expected of it. Tho rope had l>ccn purchased, ho thomrht, during ex-Mayor Simon's term of office, and when the specification had lieen forwarded to the makers they offered even a superior ropo to the sample forwarded to tliem. for the good of themselves they said, and tho hanefit of the service. This was the ropo under notice, and it had only lasted 22 months.

■A Member: How long Ido they usually run?

Or Anderson said sometimes a rone would last, seven years.' Hnd the council known such an accident wns likely to occur it would not have been allowed to happen. However, the rope would be to hand on Wednesday, a>nd it was thought tho car would be running on Saturday.

Considerable discussion ensued as to rones and.makers, Cr Anderwm adding "that that ropo would have deceived any man."

In reply, Mr Simon raid bo could not understand why the authorities had not been able io see far enough ahead and order a ropo in sufficient time io roplaeo that worn out. A rope did not give way without indicating what was going to happen. Ho thought it wns decidedly unfortunate 'that tho Mnryhill extension car was not running. This lino had at'.vays' nuid its way when ho was a member of the conn oil, and, in adrlitiop, jt was an Excellent feeder to tho main lino. Ho might add that, the ear on the'main line was not running to suit those wish ins to use it during dinner hour.

Cr Anderson mentioned that tho car would have had to be stopped in nny caso for painting etc., unless 1111 extra, car was built, which was not advisable.

Tho resolution was lost by 10 votes to 6.