"UNFAIR AND UNBRITISH”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 416, 26 July 1928, Page 13

"UNFAIR AND UNBRITISH”

DEPUTATION’S PROTEST

NEWMARKET TRAM STOPS “I tell you that unless you come to some decision about this question of tram stops and tram sections in Newmarket, there will be great alterations made in the council at the next elections,” said Mr. Hughes, a member of a deputation from the Newmarket Progressive Association, at last evening’s meeting of the Newmarket Borough Council. The deputation protested against tlie attitude of the council in not attending a meeting of the association which was held on July 16, to discuss the Question, and a motion, which, wa.s passed at the meeting, was read by a member of the deputation: “That this meeting of ratepayers, strongly disapproves of the council’s not attending the meeting, and decides that a deputation shall wait on the council to urge them to carry odt the proposed alterations to tram stops and to submit their proposals about the section terminus to a poll of ratepayers.” “Apologies were very gratefully received from two of the councillors,” said Mr. J. Pliilpott, another member of the deputation, “but nothing was heard from the rest. A man who refuses to meet the people should not be a councillor.” Councillor G. E. Smerdon asked the deputation that a little discretion should be left to the council. The ' notice of the meeting was brief, and the council had wanted time to discuss it. Besides, tlio motion which had been suggested in the notice, “Tram stops in Broadway,” l'ar too widely put. However, he would not like the association to think the council was neglecting the matter. WHAT IS THE ASSOCIATION? "I made inquiries,” said Cr. F. T. O'Meara, “as to who or what this Ratepayers’ AssociuUon was, but was unable to find out Anything about it. At the meeting they did not appfear to know themselves, and finally decided that they were a progressive association and not a ratepayers’ association. And, since it was a public meeting, were there no others except ratepayers present?” Mr. Philpott: At least, we are representative of the ratepayers wWo elect you, and we think it was unfair and un-British of you to ignore us. Cr. Smerdon: T rise to a point of order, your Worship. Are we to take that as a threat? Mr. Philpott: No, but we do say that anyone who is afraid to meet us should not represent the district. Cr. Smdhdon: That is untrue. We have never called a meeting for any serious business without inviting the ratepayers to be present, and everything which seriously affects them has been put before them. But at tiines when there has been as much as £28,000 at stake, only six ratepayers have been present. That shows liow much interest they take in us. Cr. S. Gregory asked the Mayor, Mr. S. Donaldson, to call the meeting to order, and the Mayor read the deputation’s motion again. The Mayor admitted that he thought it discourteous of the council not to have attended the meeting. Cr. O’Meara rose to ask again whether the association was a ratepayers’ association, and whether the meeting had been attended solely by ratepayers. Mr. Philpott: The association is the Progressive Association; the other was a mistake of the secretary’s. The Mayor addressed Cr. O’Meara, saying that it did not-matter whether they were solely ratepayers or not. At least there was a representative number of them present. Cr. Smerdon said that no discourtesy had been intended. As soon as the council’s proposals were ready they would be put before the ratepayers at a public meeting. MAYOR SUGGESTS BALLOT The Mayor: The deputation is merely asking you to put the question of the tram stops and sections to a poll of ratepayers. Will the council agree if I put it to you as a motion? I suggest that a ballot paper should be drawn up, asking whether the ratepayers prefer the stop at the top of the borough or at the triangle. Mr. Philpott said that the stop at the station corner must be done a.way with. It was the cause of all the trouble, and thousands would agree with him in that. Cr. Cooper: I won’t. Cr. Hardley: The stop should be moved, but if you alter the section it will make trouble for a %>t of people. Would it not be better to meet the City Council Tramway experts and get them to make it into a floating section?

The Mayor: Are yoir in favour of shifting the stop? Cr. Hardley: Most certainly! Cr. O’Meara: I advocate and always have advocated the stop being in its present place. It is in a most convenient place for the large traffic of train passengers, and very serious consideration should be taken before it is moved. The Clerk: With reference to the suggestion that a referendum should be taken, I may say that there is no authority whatsoever for such a course. The council must decide the matter first, get an Order-in-Council for the work, and then wait until at ’east 5 per cent. of the ratepayers concerned protest. It is only a process of elimination. It was finally decided, after further discussion, that a deputation from the Legal and Finance Committee should wait on the City Council Tramway Committee on the question of a floating section, and should report to the next meeting of the council.