FITZROY AFFAIRS

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14345, 25 October 1910, Page 2

FITZROY AFFAIRS

It is not easy to understand the reluctance of some of tho members of the Fitzroy Town Board to have the proceedings of 'the special meeting held last night fully reported. There could he no objection to tho Board going into committee in order to give the members more latitude in discussion than is usual in an open meeting, but. in a mutter so vitally concerning tho ratepayers, and exciting so keen an interest among them, tho Board’s constituents had a right to know what was being done. As it is,, they arc quite in the dark, because tho Board nid not resume in open meeting to formally pass whatever decision it had arrived at in committee, and will have to meet again tor that purpose. Last night’s meeting was called, we understand,, to consider tho revision of tho roll and tho question of merging into tho borough. The existing roil is in a very imperfect state, containing many names which should not bo there, while there arc many otherwise qualified electors and ratepayers whoso names do not appear upon it, and who aro consequently, disIranchiscd for tho time being. It may, however, interest many ot our readers to learn that, taking the roll as it stands, a largo majority of the available electors have signed the petition in favour of merging the town district of Fitzroy into the borough of New Plymouth, while of those who are not on tile roll, but who ' are otherwise qualified, a substantial majority have signed another petition, also in favour of merging. Tho petition has gone forward to Wellington, and as it is only necessary that 25 per cent, should sign it follows, that with such strong evidence of tho general desire of the electors to join the borough it is now only a question of complying with the usual formalities.