ADVANCE TOKOMARU BAY!

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19378, 16 July 1937, Page 10

ADVANCE TOKOMARU BAY!

PROGRESS ASSOCIATION FIRST ANNUAL MEETING MANY SCHEMES IN VIEW (Herald Correspondent.) The first annual meeting since its inception over two years ago, was held by the Tokomaru Bay Progress Association this week. Mr. J. Todd, the president, was in the chair, and Mr. F. Nathan, secretary, also attended. The attendance of the public was meagre. Mr. Todd reviewed the work done by the executive during the two years of its office. Electric power for the Coast had been dealt with on several occasions. A good deal of progress had been made and the Waiapu County Council had shown definite interest. Both the Uawa and Waiapu councils had agreed to carry out the necessary load survey and the Minister of Public Works had promised legislation to enable further steps to bo taken. The general feeling that Ihe power should be brought to the Coast had grown.

Tar sealing of the main road through the township had been dealt with. Now that the State had taken over the main highways Mr. Todd intimated that, according to the district engineer, residents might expect something accomplished within the next year or so. He had convinced the engineer that the work was urgent. Regarding a motor camp, which was also one of the aims of the association, very little had been done. The difficulty was to find a suitable site in thi!' Bay to establish a camp for travellers. The erection of a public convenience in the Bay had been discussed, and the Waiapu County Council had given them every encouragement. A considerable amount of treeplanting had been carried out and the majority were gradually making headway.

Mr. Todd, continuing the report said that the executive had considered the advisability of nominating a representative; for the County Council, but had decided to the contrary before tiie last election as the elected members had given assurances of their help on that body, which they had done. Finances of the Association During the inception of the association a certain amount of publicity had been done for the Coast and the Bay in particular. Other items touched on by "Mr. Todd were the erection of the bathing shed in Tokomaru Bay: the proposed effort to raise funds, an art union having been rejected on account of the law limiting the prize-money to £25; and the Coronation Ball, from which a profit of £G l()s had been realised.

The balance sheet showed that during the two years the receipts totalled £4l 7s and the expenditure £32 17s, leaving a credit balance of £8 10s. On the motion of Mr. Stafford, seconded by Mr. Short, the report and balance sheet were adopted. The net proceeds of the Coronation Ball were added to the funds of the association. It was decided to put on record the appreciation of the association at the work done by the ball committee. Prior to the election of officers Mr. Todd put forth suggestions which lie thought the association might consider. These suggestions were: Membership should be voluntary and anyone wishing to join should apply to the secretary; the subscription should be free; the executive should consist of the president and six others and they should have power to elect thensecretary; and should call meetings when necessary; they should hold office for a term of two years; the president should not be re-elected at the expiry of that term.

T!i reasons for the latter suggestions, said Mr. Todd, were that they would give the executive time to carry out any work thc-y had in view. In reference to the president's office, Mr. Todd intimated that if they had a leader of the organisation he might or might not have made a success of the office and it would give him a chance to retire at the end of the term. Good Work by Officers A general debate took place and the proposals were discussed from several angles. After Messrs. Stafford, Nathan, and Short had expressed their views Mr. W. Oates said that as the present president was in touch with all the other local bodies he could do more for the association than any other person in the Bay. He paid a tribute to the work done by Mr. Todd as president, and to Mr. Nathan as secretary, and in moving a hearty vote of thanks to both he hoped that they could see their way clear to carry on. Mr. Stafford seconded the motion. Mr. Todd thanked the speakers.and informed the meeting that both he and the secretary had found that they really could not afford the time.

The election of officers resulted: President, Mr. J. Todd: executive committee, Messrs. J. Tankard, H. S. Short, L. McKessar, F. Nathan, J. B. Stafford and P. Ilardacre.

Mr. Todd suggested consideration by the association of the erection of a swimming pool in Tokomaru Bay, and also asked for suggestions for the improvements to the War Memorial grounds. Nothing definite was arrived at. Mi-. F. Collin suggested that the executive should ask the authorities to concentrate on the footpaths and tar-sealing of Beach road as soon as possible. Time for Tree-Planting Mr. Nathan stated that as far as the wharf road was concerned the Government subsidy was available now. II; was only a matter for the council to produce*their quota, and he quoted the estimated amount required to puT the work through.

Mr. Nathan also suggested that as i(. was now time for tree-planting and only eight weeks remained of the season the association should begin immediately, otherwise it would miss one year. The purchase of wire for fennng-oIT purposes was the main expense and at present the funds were not substantial. Several suggestions were made as to ways and means of raising funds, some of which will be put into operation as soon as possible. Mr Eigne] I said that they should have a working day to clean round the trees already planted, lie was informed thai 50 or 100 trees would be put in. The first meeting of the new executive was set down for next Monday night.