STRATFORD DISTRICT NEWS

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1928, Page 8

STRATFORD DISTRICT NEWS

(FROM OUR RESIDENT REPORTERS) .

PAYING FOR POWEIJ.

A-IffTUDE OF ELTHAM’S MAYOR. THE POSITION EXPLAINED. A somewhat unusual position was created at the public meeting'on Monday evening at Eltliam. In response to the petition of 62 ratepayers of Eltham the Mayor (Mr. I. J. Bridger) convened a meeting for the purpose of “protesting against the availability rate of the Taranaki Electric Power Board.” Mr. Bridger, however, had already taken an active part in objecting, in his official capacity, against the. imposition of an availability rate rather than of a general rate. Li the interim, from the time it became known that a public meeting was to be, held, the impression grew that the Mayor himself was calling the meeting and would naturally be one of the principal speakers.

Accordingly, when the meeting opened, he explained the facts of the case, pointing out that he was present only in the capacity of convenor, in accordance with the wisbek of the petitioners. Mr. Bridger made it plain that ho would extend tfte same courtesy to any people who chose to present a petition in favour of the availability rate, and was perfectly willing to convene a meeting at tiieir request also. After dealing with certain statements that had recently appeared in the Elthani Argus and had, he said, placed a wrong Interpretation upon hie actions, lie stated that both the proprietor ot the paper and Mr. Carman (chairman of the Power Board) actually were in favour of exempting Eltham town irom the operations of the availability rate. He was pleased to see the proprietor of the Argus present, and thought Mr. Carman should also have attended as the result of the meeting tended to strengthen his hand in any action he might bo contemplating in connection with his desire to relieve the town of the rate.

Mr. Bridger went on to say that recent amendments to the legislation exempted private holders of power licenses from the availability rate, but Eltham, which had previously assumed somewhat similar liabilities in the establishment of its gasworks, was not exempted. In that same amendment, however, there was a further clause which gave power boards authority to levy wnat was known as a “differential” rate. Under this authority, the board could have levied a general rate over the town of Eltham, and an availability rate over the county, or over parts of the inner area as desired. Eltham, he contended, did not warrant an availability rate, lor the town had already taken 70 per cent, more current from the board than had originally been estimated as its probable consumption. Under the circumstances, then, he felt that Mr. Carman should have attended the meeting because of the opportune support he would have been accorded as far as Eltham and the availability rate were concerned.

In connection with the suggestion that the actions of his council in opposing the availability rate might ultimately lead to the transference of the headquarters of the board from Eltham to Stratford, he said he would take absolutely no responsibility for the statement. The first to mention such "a ridiculous argument” had been the Argus, and “I ask you people, if ever such a remote possibility does come about, to remember whence came this suggestion.” Mr. Bridger went on to explain his reasons for attending the Stratford meeting, as he had also been attacked in that connection. To him the meeting appeared an excellent opportunity to explain to country ratepayers that his attitude in objecting to the availability rate would not throw a heavier burden upon them. He had never urgeh exemption for Eltham at the expense of the county. PARISH PRIEST FAREWELLED. FATHER CAHILL’S DEPARTURE. At the Foresters’ Hal] last night a large number of parishioners of the Ro-

man Catholic Church attended the farewell function and presentation to the Rev. Father Cahill who, on account of his health, will be leaving Stratford for Te Arolia to-day. Those on the platform were Mr. D. J. Malone (presiding), the Rev. Father Cahill, the Rev. Father McLaughlin, and Messrs J. W. McMillan (Mayor), A, Coleman and J. Kovaleski.

Mr. Malone explained that they had met to do honour to (Father Cahill on the eve of his departure. Father Cahill had proved himself an ideal priest and It was very fitting that so many parishioners should have assembled to bid him farewell. The parishioners were not able to choose their priests, as this was a matter resting solely in the hands of the church authorities, but they had been fortunate in having had Father Cahill allotted to them, and Mr. Malone was sure that they were all sorry to lose their priest.

In making the presentation of a cheque, Mr. Coleman said that during his two years’ residence at Stratford Father Cahill had done much good work for the members of the church. The keynote of his operations had been practicability. Father Cahill had expended a fair sum in improvement to the school and to the church, but value had been obtained for every penny spent. It had been due to their priest’s efforts that the handsome frontage wall to the church had been built to commemorate the pioneers who had been responsible for the firm establishment of the church in the town and district.

Father Cahill had always struck Mr. Coleman as being a man who was not fond of popularity, but he had achieved more than popularity in securing the respect and esteem of his parishioners. Mr. Coleman greatly regretted that Father Cahill's health had made it necessary for him to give up the heavy work the large, scattered parish had demanded.

Mr. Coleman then welcomed Father McLaughlin, who would succeed Father Cahill, and 'hoped that the former’s stay would be as pleasant as he was sure it would be profitable to the parishioners.

In reply, Father Cahill said he was grateful to those present for attending the function in such numbers. He would rather have departed quietly on account of his health, but it gave him great pleasure to be present and to listen to the “ihot air” which was inevitably connected with such an occasion.

On the request of Mr. Malone, Father Cahill then gave an interesting resume of his work for the church since he first landed in Australia forty years ago. During the evening a vocal programme was rendered by Mrs. Clark, Miss Vickers and Messrs P. Coe and Uhlenberg. QUEEN CARNIVAL FUNCTIONS. The mountain queen candidate, Miss H. Haldane, was present at the first country function held in her interest on Monday evening, when a highly successful dance was held in the Coronation Hall, Toko. During the evening Mr. J. C. Robins, chairman of her committee, introduced the candidate and then announced that a gentleman’s "excuse me” dance would follow, each gentleman claiming the candidate being required to pay a small fee for the privilege. As indicating the support she is likely to receive from Toko it was satisfactory to the committee to note that nineteen gentlemen pressed forward their claims and their sixpences. Music was supplied by Boulton’s orchestra and Mr. Max' Gernhoefer acted as M.C. The dance wag acclaimed one of the most successful held in the district. A similar function will be at Pembroke Road to-morrow evening. Last night the committee supporting the band and fire brigade candidate held an enthusiastic meeting when arrangements for activities in hand were completed and further suggestions were discussed. Miss Winifred Wilson has consented to stand as band and fire brigade candidate in the queen carnival. On the illness of Miss Noeline Massey, Miss Maxine Robson was nominated, but was unable to stand. ’Yesterday afternoon the Plunket carnival committee held a street day in support of Miss Molly Malone, good business being done in an empty shop in central Broadway. On Friday evening the Plunket committee is holding a cabaret in the town hall, where Red Ramblers will provide lots of fun and gaiety. i

A WONDERFUL PICTURE.

A packed house greeted the screening at Stratford of Harold Bell Wright’s famous novel, “The Winning of Barbara Worth,” last night, the management ot the King’s Theatre being at a loss to find seats for all who sought to view this great picture. The screen interpretation was wonderfully complete and the intense story was skilfully unfolded, holding the audience spellbound. The finished production, the exquisite settings and the acting have to be seen to be appreciated. The final screening will be to night, when the King's all soloists instrumental trio, under the direction of Miss Mitchell, L.A.8., L.R.A.M., will give another rendering of their great music score especially written for the picture. GENERAL. Two light showers of rain fell In Stratford yesterday, one about, midday and another a little later. The effect, however, was merely temporary, as before long the sun was shining with its usual hrillianco and the rain so urgently needed to refresh pastures and stimulate the growth of root crops was evaporated almost as quickly as it had descended. “I have evidence that when speaking at Midhirst before the. original power loan was carried, Mr. Carman was asked if any steps had been taken to verify the engineer’s estimate of the number of farms in the area that were using water power for milking purposes,” said Mr. N. H. Moss, at a meeting of ratepayers at Eltham on Monday. The reply had been, “No, it will cost too much money to do that.” “I’ll say now that Mr. Carman’s attitude was wrong. It would have paid his board to have spent £lO,OOO in finding out the true position,” concluded Mr. Moss.. Dealing further with the same early meeting, he said Mr. Carman had assumed those present that he had based the revenue estimate on figures taken from other districts where power was being distributed under similar conditions. “1 challenge Mr. Carman to say with what districts this comparison was made and to show any district the figures of which would lead anyone to believe that the board’s area was capable of returning £30,000 a year in revenue.”

“The men who are to get the Power Board out of its difficulties will be up against the stiffest proposition in Taranaki,” said Mr. N. H. Moss at Eltham on Monday evening. “Che man who is ‘breaking his neck’ to be elected to the board is a fool; do I look such a person?” This remark was made in reply to a suggestion current in Eltham that the speaker had taken the platform, not in the interests of the ratepayers but because he himself desired the position of chairman of the Taranaki Power Board.

“Lots of people in Taranaki do not realise the suffering that has been caused through the levying of the availability rate,” said Mr. N. H. Moss in a recent address at Eltham. He said that since the report of the meeting in Stratford had been made publie he, as chairman of the newly-formed Ratepayers’ Association, had received scores of letters from people far and near. “I can assure this meeting,” lie said, “that some of these correspondents are actually going without necessities through having to pay this rate.”

At the annual railwaymen’s picnic at Stratford the lorry provided to take the visitors to King Edward Park was lent by Mr. J. Whyte, of Stratford, while the tents on the ground were erected by the Stratford railway staff under ths supervision of Mr. T. Kirkwood. The borough council was not responsible for these facilities as stated yesterday morning.

The following are the settled fixtures received by the Jubilee Executive secretary from the various Queen candidate organisations:—Tuesday, February 7, Plunket Society Shopping Day; Sunday, February 12, Band and Fire Brigade, Tangarakau Picnic; Thursday, February 16, Band and Fire Brigade Cabaret in the Town Hall; Sunday, February 19, Band and Fire Brigade sacred concert in the Town Hall; Saturday, February 25, Plunket Society street day.