MORE ABOUT COUNTY AMALGAMATION

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20722, 8 May 1937, Page 8

MORE ABOUT COUNTY AMALGAMATION

Mackenzie country ratepayers, especially those who recently passed a resolution protesting against county amalgamation without a referendum, will be somewhat surprised at the challenge issued by the chairman of their Council yesterday, to the effect that he would not be bound by any resolution members passed, and that he wished to attend the forthcoming county conference in Timaru, with a free mind. The last part of the chairman’s statement is somewhat interesting, because it was at the meeting of ratepayers held only this week that he declared himself “a whole-hogger” for one county. That declaration cau scarcely be reconciled with a free mind, and it was rather unfortunate that the members of the Mackenzie County Council did not rise to the occasion and pass a resolution so that their chairman’s unusual attitude could be tested. With the knowledge that they can exercise their votes on the same resolution at the forthcoming conference, however, then can probably be excused for allowing the motion to lapse. Nevertheless, in view of the definite direction given by the ratepayers, who, the chairman is no doubt aware, are responsible for his presence on the Council, there is difficulty in finding grounds to justify the claim to a free mind. Members of councils are, after all, only the representatives of ratepayers. It is not altogether their own opinions that entitle them to seats on a council; and when the ratepayers raise their voices strong enough to be heard, without a shadow of doubt councillors have frequently found it desirable to credit opinion with the power it undoubtedly possesses. Then again, it can be pointed out that local authorities in New Zealand derive their powers from the Acts of Parliament under which they are constituted, and from special empowering Acts, and not from the individual opinions of members of the council.