MOTUEKA.

Colonist, Volume LVIII, Issue 14535, 12 October 1917, Page 4

MOTUEKA.

ALTERATION o/ ELECTOR \f BOUNDARIES.

MEETING OF PROTEST,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

A meeting of electors to protest against the alteration, in the name of the electorate and new boundaries was held at Motueka on Wednesday evening. Mr. J. A. Wallace, Mayor of the borough, presided.

Mr. Wallace stated that already representationsl had been made through Mr. C. It. Fell, of the Nelson Chamber of Commerce, who were in sympathy .with the object of the meeting. Mr. Fell had been in communication with Messrs. T. A. H. Field and R. P. Hudson, M.P.'s. Mr. Wallace thought that some action from the old district, giving reasonable grounds for protest, was necessary. It was proposed under the new electorate that Tapawera, AY'angapeka, portion of Pokororo, and the Lpper Moteuka Valley should be m VVairai; electorate. This was absurd. Ihe electors had a right to protest against theelectorate being altered to the name of "Buller." Motueka was the only municipality, and had always been the centre. It had to be considered from'an advertising point of view that the name was of great importance to the development of the district, and a strong protest should be made against the Joss of the name Motueka.

It was proposed by Mr H. Everett, and seconded by Mr. J. A. Wallace, and carried:—"That a copy of the following resolution be forwarded.to the Electoral Boundaries Commissioners:1 'That this meeting of electors (residents of the Borough of Motueka and the County of Waimen)emphatically protest against the elimination of the. name "Motueka" from the number of the electorates, and its merging in that of Buller, for the following reasons: The part of the electorate which opens upon Blind Bay is the most progressive portion; is closely settled, is steadily increasing m population, and rapidly in wealth. It is traversed by excellent roads, it has fast water servicesl its rivers are all well bridged and it is connected throughout by telephone. 'Motueka" (the only municipality in the electorate) is a well built, flourishing, and growing township, i s the centre of the most important fruitgrowing district in the Dominion, and is in daily communication with Wellington by steamer; in fact, the whole condition or affairs m respect of both private and public activities is greatly in advance of that obtaining in the western portion of the new O r proposed electorate Ihe interests of the Murchison district are more closely allied to those on this side of the watershed, as is evidenced by their inclusion—at their own re£Y est—"} the Nelson Hospital and Charitable Aid District; and, further, Motueka" as an electorate has an existence many years before that of tfuiier, and it is more in accord with the fitness of things that the older Native name should be preserved unless good and sufficient reasons can be Sr°' »° r th° adoptiou of som*

It was further resolved .on the motion of Messrs. H. Everett and E W. James:—"That copies of tie above resolution be forwarded to Takaka and Collingwood, and that they be invited to support it or take such steps a* in their opinion are best calculated to assist in the retention of 'Motueka' as the name for the newly constituted or proposed electorate "

Mr. C. R. Fell (Nelson), who was in Motueka on private business, was inyited to speak. He said that tie boundaries of the new electorates were quit© unsuitable. The only reason he could see for the change was -that the alteration of the name to Buller was out of compliment to Mr. Colvin who was one of tie fathers-of the House. .Keetton had the largest population, but the interests of Reef ton district were not m- accord -with Motueka. He would suggest that a representative committee from the districts affected be set up to protest to the Boundaries Commissioners.

Mr. J. H. Rankin, J.P., sa id it was necessary that some action should bo taken to retain the name "Motueka " Tvtich was a great advertisement to the kelson district. Motueka had the only port or the proposed new electorate, and _ Motueka had advertised the district world-wide with it ß fruit exports. Motueka should work in common with Nelson, and protest against the alterations of the boundaries and ctange of nams.; o f the electoral district.

Ihe following executive committee were elected to .further the object :_ Mr. J. A. Wallace (Mayor), Mr H. Everett (chairman of the Waimea County Council), the chairman of the Lppor Montere Road Board, and the chairman of the Riwaka Road Board.