WAIHEMO COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16415, 21 June 1915, Page 8

WAIHEMO COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

THE COMMISSION'S REPORT. QUESTION OF COSTS DISCUSSED. The result of the recent movement to have the boundaries of the Waihemo and Mamototo Counties altered was made known to the Waihemo County Council at its meeting on Saturday. '.me easistant tindersoeretary wrote on behalf of the Minister of Internal Affairs- enclosing a copy of the , report on the matter. , and stating that, m view of such report, the Minister was not prepared to advise his Excellency to make the alteration of boundaries prayed for. The- report referred particularly to the' P f «\ on t. ot ' certa - in ratepayers in the County of yVaiherao to have an area of Macraes Riding of Waihemo County excluded fu Om « T • county and included in the Maniototo County. The commissioners reported that they were unanimously of opinion that no alteration should be made ".'"J regard to the inclusion of the area .of Maeraee Riding, or any portion of it within Maniototo County. Full evidence was given by several witnesses on the grounds set forth in the petition, and the county roads were personally inspected by the commissioners, and, alter duo consideration, the above decision was agreed to • Ine I,t poI X K " as reived mthout discussion. Ihe Chairman stated later that each party had to pay its own costs. For the YWiemo Council these amounted to £30 14s ad. Cr M'Callum at once jumped to his feet and began saying that those who made the- trouble should pay the. expense. Cγ Clark had brought it on Cr Clark protested, and Cr M'Callum waa called to order by the chairman, who expressed the hope that the matter would be dissuseed without undue feeling. Cr M'Callum said that Cr Clark had been the aggressor, and he failed to see why other ridings should be brought into this trouble. No doubt Cr Clark might have been led astray by some of his supporters, but he was a very hard man to lead astray Macraes ndmg ehould pay the piper, and ne moved that the expenses of tnis commission be borno by the Macraes Biding Cr M Lay seconded tho motion. rho Chainnrti explained that the petitioners would have to pay their own expenses, which were considerable. t C I P il brow P° inte d out that a great many of the Macraes ratepayers had been opposed to tho petition, and it would be a hardship to tax them, just ae it would be a hardship to tax the lower ridings. Cr O'Neill eaid that Cr M'Callum's motion was absolutely unfair. Why should ne saddle the expense on to the half of those in Macraes who had fought against this petition?

Cr Clark said tho petitioners had approached the Waihemo County Council and asked it to agree to their proposal. The council oifi not ner*l to fight unless it liked so that tho incurring of this expenso was quit? voluntary. It was anything but democratic thai those who had presented this petition should be. penalised and prosecuted Before thoy passed this resolution "he ad'vised thorn to consult their solicitor because he did not think they had the power to talc* such action.

Cr Ji Lennan expressed the opinion that those who started tHs should pay for it. It was not fair, however, that the whole Macraes Riding should have to pay for it The Chairman eaid he thought that in fairnoss to all, this account should be charged to tho general account. Cr Pilbrow mov,rd as an amendment and Cr OConnell seconded, that the espenses •be charged to the general account. Tho amendment was carried by four vote* to three. Cr Muir not voting. Cr Muir moved as a further amendment, and Cr M'Lonnnn seconded, that the matter bo left over till next meeting, and that in the meantime legal advieo bo taken. This amendment was carried, and therefore became the ultimate resolution of the council.