WAIHEMO COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 9

WAIHEMO COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

THE COMMISSION'S REPORT. QUESTION OF COST'S DISCUSSED. The result of the recent movement to have the boundaries of the Waihemo and Maniototo Counties altered was made known to the Waihemo County Council at its meeting on Saturday. Tno assistant undersecretary wrote on behalf of the Minister of Intel nal Affairs enclosing a copy of the commissioners’ report on the matter, and stating that, in 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 petition of certain ratepayers in the County of Waihemo to have an area of Macraes Riding of Waihemo County excluded from that county and included in tho Maniototo County. The commissioners reported that they were unanimously of opinion that no alteration should be made with regard to the inclusion of tho, area of Macraes 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. The report was received without discussion. The Chairman stated later that each party had to pay its own costs. For the Waihemo Council these amounted to £3O 14s 9d.

(Jr M'Callum at once jumped to his feet and began saying that those who made the trouble should pay the expense. Cr Clark had brought it on. Cr Clark protested, and Cr M'Callum was called to order by the chairman,* who expressed the hope that the matter would be discussed 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 riding should pay the piper, and ho moved that the expenses of this commission be borne by the Macraes Riding. Cr M'Lay seconded the motion. The Chairman explained that the petitioners would have to pay their own expenses, which were considerable. Cr Pilbrow pointed out that a groat many of the Macraes ratepayers had been opposed to the petition, and it would be a hardship to tax them, just as it would bo a hardship to tax the lower ridings. Cr O’Neill said that Cr M'Callum’s motion was absolutely unfair. Why should ho saddle the expense ou to the half of those in Macraes who had fought against this petition ? Cr Clark said the petitioners had approached the Wailietao County Council and asked it to agree to their proposal. The council did not need to fight unless it liked, so that the incurring of this expense was quite voluntary. It was anything but democratic that those who had presented this petition should be penalised and prosecuted. Before they passed this resolution he advised them to consult their solicitor, because he did not think they had the power to take such action.

Cr M'Lcnnan expressed the opinion that those who started this should pay for it. It was not fair, however, that the whole Macraes Riding should have to pay for it! The Chairman said he thought that, in fairness to all, this account should bo charged to the general account. Cr Pilbrow moved as an'amendment, and Cr O’Connell seconded, that the expenses bo charged to the general account. The amendment was carried by four votes to three, Cr Muir not voting. Or Muir moved as a further amendment, and Cr M'Lennan seconded, that the matter bo left over till next meeting, and that in the meantime legal advice bo taken. This amendment was carried, and therefore became the ultimate resolution of the council.