TE AWASWUTU TOWN BOARD.

Waipa Post, Volume VIII, Issue 345, 1 September 1914, Page 4

TE AWASWUTU TOWN BOARD.

A special meeting of the Te Awamutu Town Board was held at the Board’s offices on Saturday last, Mr A. S. Wallace presiding' All the members were present. , STABLES ON ROAD. The chairman referred; to the additions and alterations to the stables in Arawata Street being carried out by Messrs Finlay Bros., and introduced the matter of the removal of the portion of the buildings standing out to the original road line. Correspondence on the subject was received from Messrs Peat and Benzie. Some discussion ensued as to the circumstances leading up to the building of the structure to the' original street frontage. All members joined in the discussion, and ultimately the chairman moved that the matter stand deferred for a few days, the Board together With the visiting members of the Land Board to inspect the property on Monday or Tuesday with a view to dual action in having the works carried out. Dr Reekie moved an amendment, in order to facilitate matters, that tenders be immediately invited. After further discussion the proposal was carried. TE AWAMUTU BOROUGH. A letter from the Department of Internal Affairs with reference to the constitution of the Te Awamutu Borough, and stating that Messrs E. Rawson, S.M., H. M. Sheet, Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Hyde, Valuation Officer, had been appointed a commission to inquire into the subject matter of the petition. The letter invited the Board to get into communication with the commission as to the time of holding the enquiry. A similar letter was received from the Board’s solicitors.

The chairman reported having instructed the clerk to communicate with the solicitors with the request that they get into communication with the commission for the purpose indicated. Dr Reekie: What time is it going to take to complete this matter in the ordinary course of events ?

The Chairman : It is necessary for the commission to sit and report upon the proposal. An election must then take place to determine the issue.

• Mr Teasdale : But what do you want a solicitor for; you say you have instructed our solicitors, but what are they to do ? Mr Mathews : They will represent the Board. It is quite right that the Board should be properly represented.

The Chairman : I have merely advised the solicitors to seek the information as to when the commission will sit. The solicitors have so far completed all negotiations on our behalf, and they should do so right up till the time the commission sits.

Dr Reekie: I have got a similar letter. Mr Teasdale : And so have I.

Dr Reekie : I am quite sure I do not require a solicitor to write and ask for the simple information.

Mr Teasdale: It is absurd to talk of having a solicitor in this matter. What is he to do ? Ido not think that this Board should employ a solicitor to work against anybody. Dr Reekie: Certainly the Board should not have a solicitor to

Mr Mathews: The ratepayers are entitled to a solicitor to guard their interests. /

How is he to guard their interests if working under direction of the Board ? I suppose you infer that a solicitor must be there to see that the Magistrate is not biassed in his opinions ; that the Crown Lands commissioner acts fairly, and that |he Government agent does his duty !

Mr Mathews: There are lots of things that a solicitor will have to watch. Can any of us swear that we have the population required ? Why, I for one doubt it. Mr Taylor: That’s where the rub comes in. I have heard some very funny things since that census was taken.

A general discussion here followed for a brief interval, during which several members spoke at the one time. The chairman restored order, and Dr Reekie went on to refer to the fact that there were no empty houses, and that several new dwellings had since been erected. He, for one, would not hesitate to say that the population had increased rather than decreased since the trial census.

The chairman : There is really no need to debate this question. The papers were laid before us at the time, and we were then quite satisfied' to approve them. Mr Taylor: I quite approve that we should have a solicitor at the sitting, so as to consult him if necessary. Mr Teasdale: We, the people’s Board, need to have a solicitor to consult to work against the people! The idea is absoluely wrong.

The chairman referred to the practice at assessment courts for parties to club together and be represented by counsel. Dr Reekie: That is a very different matter. If Mr Teasdale and myself choose to engage a solicitor, even though we be members of the Board, then we are at perfect liberty to do so. In that case we pay him ourselves, and he goes there for the express purpose of representing us. But as a Board we have no right to have a solicitor. If we do have a solicitor what is he to do ? Have we any preconceived idea as to what should be done ? The chairman : You must remember that it was this Board that sent in the petition, and we should, to some extent at least, be there to defend the subject matter of the petition. Mr Teasdale: It seems to me that the solicitor’s only duty will be*to be there to bully any ratepayers who go along. Mr Taylor: It is just as probable that he will require to stop bullying. Mr Mathews : Hear ! hear!

The chairman: I must again remind you that I did not instruct the solicitors to appear at the sitting of the commission. That is for the Board to settle. I merely directed that they ascertain information as to the time of the sitting. The chairman’s action was approved. LAND BOARD. Mr Teasdale referred to the approaching visit of members of the Auckland Land Board for the purpose of allotting the sections now offering in the Moerangi block. He made mention of the manner in which the Land Board had assisted Te Awamutu, and moved that the members be entertained at luncheon at a time and place to be arranged. ' After some discussion relating to the arrangements, the motion was seconded by Mr Taylor and carried unanimously. The chairman and the clerk were deputed to complete arrangements. The public will be welcomed, and a charge of five shillings was fixed for other than guests. WATER CHARGES. The clerk reported that MrLuks had asked for a concession in the water charges. —The matter was fully considered, and the clerk was instructed to advise MrLuks of the scale rate of charges.