RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20283, 16 December 1927, Page 8

RATEPAYERS’ ASSOCIATION

ADJOURNED ANNUAL MEETING. The first annual general meeting of members of the Dunedin City Ratepayers’ Association, adjourned from last week for want of a quorum, was held in the Returned Soldiers’ clubrooms last night. There were 20 members present, including two ladies, and the president (Mr A, E. Ansell) occupied the chair. ANNUAL REPORT. The annual report contained the following clauses ;—On April 2l the association held a public meeting in Burns Hall, when all ci.ndiu.ites seeking election to the City Council, Harbour Board, and Hospital Board were invited to address the elec tors There was not sufficient time for this association to take any part in the elections. During the past seven months there have been various deputations: to the City Council, superintendent of police, respecting traffic regulations. Education Board, asking that instruction lessons be given to children of all schools, so that they would know the dangers of using the road ; Hospital Board, for information per taimng to the receipts and expenditure ol the Hospital Board: Harbour Board, re specting th e purchase of the new dredge and harbour improvements. A public meeting was held in Burns Hall on Sep tember 25, for the purpose of giving the ratepayers an opportunity of discussing the valuation and rating question. Ad dresses were given on rating .on unim proved values, and also on rating on capi tal and rental values. The association has received various complaints from members with regard to their rates, which ■ have been satisfactorily adjusted, the City Council officials always being willing to discuss, and. if possible, adjust any mat tej brought before them by the associa tion. The subject of the advisability of getting the City Council to revert to the ward system for election purposes only has been discussed, but left for the general meeting to decide. It is very gratify ing to have the support of most of the business firms of the city, and we hope to greatly increase our membership during the coming year. Judging by the large number of matters that are continually being brought before the executive, it is apparent that a need exists for an association such as ours, and that there is a need for an organisation fitted to scrutinise acrefully the operations of the various local bodies in which the citizens of Dunedin are interested. The President, in moving the adoption of the report, said it had been clearly proved that tnere existed a need for the association. In civic affairs generally, there was too much apathy among the public—a feeling that they should trust everything to those in power. No matter how good the men might be who formed the local bodies, they were all the oetter for having criticism directed on their work. Any criticism should be in the way of forwarding the interests of the city. While the committee had not a great deal to report in regard to negotia tions with the various bodies, several matters had been dealt with by the committee. As far as th e City Council and the Hospital Board were concerned, the committee had had every consideration from them. When asked for information the committee had been given a good hearing In regard to the Harbour Board the com mittee had not been so fortunate. The board seemed to consider itself a close and superior corporation, and up to the pre sent the committee had not had much satisfaction in its dealings with the board However, the members of the board would have to submit themselves to election at a future time, and if their minds were leavened to some extent at that time, more consideration might yet be given to the committee by the board. The committee considered it was entitled to the informa tion it asked for, provided it was not con fidential or would not be injurious to the board. The Waipori dam was a matter of interest to the citizens Some people thought a huge amount of money had been wasted, but it should be remembered that at the initiation of the scheme nothing of the type of dam now in view was con sidered. The height had grown from 43ft to 110 ft. The foundations were sufficient for a 43ft dam, but insufficient for a 110 ft dam. That a mistake had happened was recognised, and the association now looked to the City Council to carry out as economicallv as possible, what would undoubtedly be one of the finest assets that Dunedin possessed He believed that the dam would bp a splendid investment for the city, notwithstanding the large amount of money spent on it During the comiffg year, the committee would watch with interest the progress of the dam. With regard to the ward system, the committee considered it would be well to discuss the ward system in connection with the Citv Council At present a large porportion of the ratepayers did not know more than 60 per cent of the candidates standing for election, and it was desirable perhaps in the public interests that the city should be divided into wards for election purposes only Each ward would have three or four councillors to elect, and the result would be that ratepayers generally would take more interest in the election! and the candidates would be better able to give their views to a restricted area than they were at the present time. It would also do away with much of the apathy' that existed now in municipal affairs, the matter ought to be discussed in the comins year The Presi dent gave credit to the secretary for his work in connection with the affairs of the association, and said that Mi Wing had worked methodically, energetically, and constantly, having in view the interests of the association —(Applause.) He be lieved the city would benefit by well directed criticism and he hoped the asso elation was only starting on what would be a very useful career—(Applause.) Mr H. B:;gg seconded the morion, on his proposal a hearty vote of thank, was accorded the secretary Mr C. H Wing (secretary) thanked the meeting foi the vote of thanks. The motion for the adoption of tne i-eport was carried. ELECTION OF JFFICERB. Officers for the ensuing year were elected as follows President, Mr A. E. Ansell; vice-presidents —Dr Newlands, Messrs S. B Macdonald, it. Sincock, in H. Halliday; committee—Messrs H Begs, W F. Forrester, ’ L Ritcnif J Gray R. Duncan. T. t tedman, W Paterson, J. T. Cooper, J. W Faulknei. and Vernon Smith; hon. treasurer, Mr 11. H. Sykes; secretary, ivi>- C H. Wing AMENDMENT OF RULES. Rules 1 and 2 were amended by increasing ttq. annual subscription to sa. Rule 11 was amended to provide that | five members shall form a quorum at > executive meetings. i Rule 26 was amended to provide that i 25 members shall form a quorum at the j annual meeting or any special general I meeting. GENERAL. A short discussion took place on city ■ valuations and the system adopted to 1 arrive at the valuations.—lt was decided | to ask the incoming committee to again j take up the matter of rating on capital and rental values. I Mr G. P. Cuttriss protested against the I methods employed in reconstructing the | road from Bush’s store to Harraways | mill at Green Island, Only _ a narrow ! strip of road was usable, which was a i menace to traffic.—lt was resolved that I the president should interview the chairi man of the Highways Board on the | matter. Mr H. Halliday expressed the hope i that ratepayers with grievances would | approach the association with them. The i association was in existence for the pur- | pose of investigating all sorts of trouble, and people with grievances would get sore satisfaction in ; nproaching the association than in writing to the nano re. Only recently a man came to the committee with a complaint about his rates, and, ns a result of an interview, the ■ secretary had with the city valuer the : sum of £lO was taken off th 0 man s rates.—(Applause.)