THE RECENT MEETING AT AWATUNA.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 17, 28 August 1894, Page 3

THE RECENT MEETING AT AWATUNA.

(to the editor.) Sib, —ln justice to myself, I must take exception to your Awatuna cor-

respondent’s report of the meeting re land fund as being anything but a correct version of what really took place. He says: “Mr Maloney opened the case for the opposition, but received very slender support.” I stated at the outset of the meeting that my only object in bringing the matter forward was that both sides of the question should be fully discussed at a public meeting of ratepayers in loan area. I well know that a resolution for or against the proposal passed at a small meeting would have very little effect, and rightly so. I therefore moved, “ That a public meeting of ratepayers in loan area be convened in a central position to consider the proposal.” This was carried by a three-fourths majority of those present, and no other resolution was carried at the meeting. In the face of this fact, I fail to see how your correspondent can assert that “I’ received- very slender support.” Again, he says that after a good deal of argument and “statements lacking proof” (presumably made by me), a resolution, which he specifies, was carried. Such a resolution was not carried, except the latter part of it, re meeting, nor any resolution but that moved by me, and mentioned above. As to the “ statements lacking proof,” viz., that many ratepayers had been induced to sign petition through either having misunderstood or having the matter misrepresented to them, I can only say that I had these statements from the settlers concerned, and I think the best answer is that a petition embodying those statements, and requesting the County Council to use land fund only in paying interest on loan, is now in circulation here, and is being numerously signed by ratepayers, including the greater part of those who signed former petitions (under a misrepresentation), and also by most of those present at the above meeting.. Your Eltham Road correspondent’s report, though not literally correct, is a much truer version of what took place at the meeting.—l am, &c., T Maloney.