MEETING AT CAMBRIDGE WEST.

Waikato Independent, Volume VI, Issue 385, 15 June 1907, Page 5

MEETING AT CAMBRIDGE WEST.

A meeting of those interested in forming a Town Board District for Cambridge West was held in the Public Hall, Cambridge West, last evening. There was an attendance of about thirty persons, including two ladies, which, considering the stormy night, was very satisfactory. Several gentlemen were proposed for the chair, but each declined for various reasons. Eventually, Mr Albert Jarrctt consented to preside, and called upon MiJames Keeley to address the meeting. Mr Kecley said a local had appeared in the Independent a few days ago, stating that the names of certain gentlemen had been sent to Wellington as the first members of the proposed Town Board. This was entirely wrong, and he took it that the paragraph had been inspired by those opposed to the proposal, in order to foster a counter petition. The real facts of the case were these. The petition in favour of forming a town district had been signed by fifty-three householders, but owing to certain clerical errors, it had been returned by the Government for correction. However, the Government had lately written Mr W. Rout, whose name was first on the list of the petitioners, asking him to nominate a person to act as Returning Officer for the first election of members of {he Town . Board. Mr Rout had, without consulting any of the other petitioners, forwarded Mr Lockett's' nanie to the Gov- , eminent, and in all probability the election of the first members would shortly be proceeded with. Personally, he (the speaker) thought it would have been better if Mr H. Fitzgerald, clerk of the Pukekura Road Board, had been nominated as the Returning Officer.—(Hear, hear.) Mr Keeley went on to say that everything he had done in connection with the proposal had been constitutional and straightforward. He was not a party to any hole and corner business, and wanted ail householders to have an opportunity of voting for the election of the first members of the proposed Board. He said that a Bill had been brought before the House last session to abolish Road Boards. Legislation in the direc- j tion of .doing away with dual voting in connection with local bodies had been mooted for some time. The late Premier, Sir Joseph Ward, Mr Massey, and Messrs Greenslade and Herries had supported it. The. Bill introduced by Mr Herries last session proposed that only in those districts where there were 500 of a population could a town district be formed, and he understood that an attempt was going to be made to raise that number to 1000. The Cambridge West township had a population of about 250, and it meant that if they did nob form themselves into a town district with the present number of inhabitants, while they had the opportunity to do so, they would be placed under the control of either the Cambridge Borough Council or the Waipa County Council. Personally, if it came to that, he preferred to be under the Borough Council, but he was certain that they could get along comfortably with their own proposed governing body. Those opposed to the movement had been misrepresenting the position and telling people that if they signed in favour of a town district, they would be voting themselves into the Borough. This was intended to frighten the Cambridge West people into believing that if they voted for the Town Board they would have to pay much higher rates than at present. The opposition party had been consulting a Cambridge lawyer, but there was not one solicitor on the East side of the river but would not like to get the West people into the Borough. Mr G. Bailey, junr., interjected that Mr Keeley was talking rot and indulging in personalities. Mr Keeley went on to deal,with the financial aspect of the question, stating that he estimated that with a j;d rate, under the present valuation, and subsidy and rents, the total income of the Town Board would be £ll2 10s, which afterpayment, of the high level bridge rate, would leave then £9O 10s to spend in the township. Under the Pukekura Road Board, the township's amount came to about £76 10s after payment of the bridge rate, but as a member of the Board, he had never received more than £6O to spend in the township. Regarding the Waipa County Council, he estimated its receipts from the township at a total of £124, and the expenditure £73, leaving a balance in favor of the Council of £sl. The question of the Town Board taking over the control of the main road from the County Council could be decided later on. Mr Keeley said the upkeep of two certain back roads only amounted to about £5 a year each. The first year, however, they had cost a little extra. He had no doubt but that if a Town District was formed they would be able to greatly improve the township and manage without inflicting a hardship on anyone. . Mr Bailey said the Road Board would not allow them to take over the township at the present valuation.

Mr Keeley replied that if any dispute arose, the matter would be referred by the Government to a Commissioner, who would wake a fresh assessment. Mr It. Fisher had told him that the Boad Board did not intend to interfere in the matter.

Mr Dillon said ho did not approve of Mr Keeiey's methods in connection with the petition. He had completely taken the wind out of his sails.—(Laughter.) Mr Bailey said Mr Keeley had no definite authority to declare that Road

Boards were going to be abolished. It wight be years before that came about. Mr Hastie said he had never heard anyone properly explain why a town district should not be formed.

Mr Kecley then moved :—" That as it is the intention of the Government to abolish Road Boards throughout the colony, at the next sitting of Parliament, this meeting is of opinion that the establishment of a town district is the best system of local government, and the most conducive to the advancement of this district. Also, that this meeting desires to thank the Government for acceding to the deliberately expressed will of the people."—Seconded by Mr Hastie. Mr Dillon proposed as an amendment that no town district be formed. The amendment was seconded by Mr J. Chambers. A lot of squabbling took place as to who was eligible to vote at the meeting. Mr Bailey contended that only ratepayers or householders could vote. Mr Keeley said the meeting was a public one, and all over 21 years could vote. He did not care whether the resolution was carried or not; it would not make any difference to the proposal. The Chairman did not think Mr Keeley's motion would serve any useful purpose.

The amendment was then put, and the voting resulted in a tic, nine for and against.

Mr Bailey said- some who held u» their hand had no right to rote. He contended the proceedings were irregular. The advertisement calling the meeting bad no name signed to it, and did not make it clear whether it was a public meeting or only for householders in the township. Under the circumstances the Chairman refrained from giving his casting vote and several persons left the hall. The meeting was pretty lively at times. Messrs J. Hicks ' and Dillon created a good deal of amusement by their interjections. On several occasions, three or four persons attempted to speak at once, and the Chairman had frequently to appeal for order. At one stage of the meeting, Mr Dillon addressed the meeting in an excited manner, declaring that Mr Keeley was riding the Govern" ment to death, and asked Mr Keeley if he and Mr Rout were running the show together or in opposition.--(Laughter.) Mr Keeley said he did not care whether he was elected a member of the Board or not, he would still do his best for the township.

A Voice—" We'll put you in, Jim." (Laughter). A general conversational discussion took place amongst those who remained behind for awhile, when the members of the "Opposition " came in for some hard knocks. It was pointed out that a Town District had been formed at Raglan with only seventy-five persons, and it was also mentioned that steps would be taken to rate on the unimproved value when the Town Board at Cambridge West was formed.

Mr Kecley said the counter-petition had been signed by twenty-eight persons, some of whom had also signed the petition in favour of a Town District.

Mr Gibbs said some people imagined the West residents had a set on the Pukekura Road Board. That was not so. The Board had treated them fairly, but the residents thought they could do better under a Town Board. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to the chair.