The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1914. A RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

Waipa Post, Volume VI, Issue 282, 20 January 1914, Page 2

The Waipa Post. PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 1914. A RATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

THE great need for a properly organised and properly conducted organisation, representative of the ratepayers of this town has been more and more evidenced during the progress of the preliminary negotiations leading up to the constitution of the Te Awamutu Borough. We have, on several occasions, advocated the , establishment of a ratepayers' association, and if our return to the subject to-day evokes the criticism that we are always harping upon this point the criticism will be apt. Yet we offer no apology, nor are we in , any way ashamed as we are fully convinced that it is high time that such institution, on the lines already indicated, be formed. As we have already said never perhaps in its history has Te Awamutu been in such a state of confusion as during the past two or three weeks, and never perhaps have the needs of organisation been so amply evidenced. At the outset it may be well to point out the difference between

the functions of the Chamber of Commerce and the proposed Ratepayers' Association, as many townsmen have remained aloof from any new organisation in the belief that these two public bodies would run counter to each other. The Chamber of Commerce, as its name implies, is formed for the purpose of advancing the commercial interests of the town and district; to advocate such reforms as will benefit local trade, and to urge for any public facilities likely to advance the district. It is representative of commercial interests —farmer

and townsman alike. ' A ratepayers' association, on the other hand, has its membership confined to those whose interests are for the time being within the borough or town rating area. The concerns of the members are more often town concerns, although a well conducted ratepayers' association may do much good directly in districts beyond the town boundaries. But the main purpose of the ratepayers' association is to safeguard the interests of its members and to work, so far as is reasonably possible, with the controlling local authority for the betterment of the town and the wise administration of local affairs. Hence it will be seen that whilst both institutions aim for the betterment of local conditions — both in the town and adjacent districts—the functions of each are, except on general matters, separate and distinct. The ratepayers' association, if properly constituted and wisely managed, may serve manifold purposes, not least amongst which is that it will place the ratepayers in a position of readiness to take of-

ficial action against matters likely to jeopardise their interests. Under existing conditions it is left entirely to one or two individual persons to endeavour to right matters with the inevitable result that their efforts, thanks entirely to the lack of support, are oftentimes resultless. The

ratepayers in meeting could consider the pros and cons of the various matters of the da)', and,

after full and careful consideration, officially express themselves. They could call for official re-!

ports, and ascertain the true posi-; '<■ tion of matters in the hands ofM the local authority. Summed up, ' organisation will enable the rate- J £ payers to make a regular monthly review of all matters being dealt < with by the controlling authority, and, further, to advocate such iadditional matters as may be v deemed necessary or expedient, c By this we do not mean to infer t :hat the ratepayers are to com- £

bine in an endeavour to harass or hamper the local authorities in any unreasonable manner. It is to assist, rather than to obstruct, that organisation is desired, though, if occasion warrants it, an institution, thoroughly representative of the ratepayers, could materially check any movement which is directly contrary to the true interests of the town. The value of organisation has been recognised by those engaged in almost every trade and calling, not least of which may be mentioned the Farmers' Union, with its many branches throughout the Dominion. In our own immediate districts we may witness the value of organisation among the farmers —an organisation which aims not only for the protection of the farmers' interests, but also strives for the betterment of local conditions. Npt an aggressive, but rather a defensive, institution, ready always to assist in the wise administration of district affairs, although, if occasion warrants it, equally ready to offer protest and rigidly oppose any unreasonable encroachment upon the legitimate rights of the farming community. And almost every farmer alive to his own interests is associated with his union. How much greater, then, is the call for townsmen to unite, and, by concerted action, reap the advantages that combination assures. It is foolish in the extreme to wait until the mischief is done, and then assemble at an indignation meeting to voice protest.« Ye*t to do so is not foreign to Te Awamutu. 'Tis said that to be forewarned is to be forearmed, and it is in this position that the ratepayers should strive to place themselves, and this they can do by taking a genuine interest in any organisation formed for their benefit and protection. With ratepayers ever on the alert and ever ready to assist in the wise administration of the town's affairs, better administration may be expected. Concerted action will make many things possible which now remain disregarded and uncared for. In the interests of the town it is to be hoped that those who have undertaken to complete the initial steps for the establishment .of the proposed and very necessary organisation, will urge matters forward so that no time may be unnecessarily wasted in assuring to Te Awamutu a properly organised and well conducted Ratepayers' Assosociation.