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Otago Witness, Issue 2923, 23 March 1910, Page 34

UNKNOWN

EAST TAIERFS OBJECTIONS. At Mosgiel ,on the 21st a iceting of the ratepayers of the East Taieri drainage district was held to discuss their desire to be severed from the operations of the Taieri Drainage Board. There were about 35 ratepayers present, and Mr James Gow was 'voted to the chair. Some time ago a petition was f orwarded to Parliament praying that the East Taiei-i side of the Taieri River should be ©evered from the Taieri drainage district. This petition was unsuccessful. Monday's meeting was not productive of a large amount of oratory, but the " Aye." which carried each of the following three motions was determined and hearty. Otherwise the meeting was chiefly remarkable for eloquent silences. The first motion was : -~ ' That this meeting expresses its dissatisfaction with the result of the hearing of the several petitions sent to Parliament by 205 ratepayer® out of a total number of 261 in the East Taieri praying that their lands should be severed from the Taieri drainage district." The second motion was:— "That this mcefting protests against the injustice being done to such a large number of people by being forced to remain in a drainage district from which they cannot receive any benefit and in which they have; been included in epitc of their strong objection." The third motion was:—" That 'urther steps be taken to impress upon the Government the unfairness and injustice of the present state of affairs, and urging it to grant the request of petitioners. ' In response to the chairman's request for enlightenment as to what "steps" should be taken to give effect to the third motion, the first suggestion was, "Don't pay the rates." The Chairman remarked on the fact of a list having been given in the Land Committee's report of .men opposing the petition. This list included all the ratepayers who had not signed it. This, the petitioners contended, ivas incorrect, and the Chan-man suggested that the Minister's attention should, be called to the ; aet. A telegram received by Mr C. Findlay from the Hon. T. Mackenzie stating that Messrs Lundius and Buckhurst were o be sent to confer with too Drainage Board in regard to the classification was read. The Chairman remarked, however, that that promise did not really touch their position, as they desired severance. On the motion of Mr Findlay, seconded by Mr J. H. Allan, it 'vas resolved that the Minister should be communicated with by telegraph informing him that reclassification was not desired, but severance. It was also decided thai his attention should be drawn to the inaccurate list of names submitted i"& the parliamentary report published. Messrs Gow, Findlay, and Gawn were appointed a committee to attend to the matter. It was further decided that a permanent committee should be appointed to carry on the work of agitation for severance. Messrs J. Gow, W. R. Gawn, D. Sutherland, W. Kirk, J. Fowlers, John Ellis, and H. Palmer were appointed.