REDISTRIBUTION OF SEATS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 9456, 20 July 1881, Page 2

REDISTRIBUTION O F SEATS.

♦ PUBLIC MEETING AT WAVERLEY. by telegraph. (Special to the Chronicle). Waverley, July 19. A public meeting was held in the Town Hall, Waverley, this evening, for the purpose of expressing an opinion as to the advisability of having a County representative, or remaining a portion of the Wanganui Electoral District. There were about thirty gentlemen present, and Mr G. S. Bridge was voted to the chair. Having read the advertisement convening the meeting, The Chairman expressed the opinion that it would be to the advantage of the Waverley Hiding if they were joined to the Patea County, as their interests were at present very similar, and in the future, when the railway was more extended, they would have still more in common. He had noticed that Waverley was not looked upon as a part of the Patea County by the newspapers. He did not wish to say anything against their representatives, but he thought the Waverley people had not found it to be to their interests to be the. fag-end of the Wanganui Electoral District. He thought that if they had a local representative their interests would be better looked after. He believed they had more than sufficient electors to entitle them to a representative. (Applause.) Mr Ormond inquired if the Patea River was of any use to them, excejjt for coals. The Chairman said a tradesman had lately told him that it was cheaper for him to get his goods by way of Patea, and cart them to Waverley, than by rail from Wanganui. Mr Ormond said he thought Mr Bridge should stick up for the Waverley people as he got his living amongst them. Mr George Newland proposed, That this meeting adjourn until this day week, as sufficient notice had not been given of the meeting. The motion was seconded by Mr F. P. Fooices. Mr Taplin rose to speak, but was challenged by one of those present, who said. that Le was not an elector of Waverley Biding. Mr Taplin maintained that he was an elector, and his name was on the roll. The Chairman upheld this opinion, and Mr Taplin said the reason why the meeting was called was that they desired an expression of opinion in order that Major Atkinson's hands might be strengthened. Mr Ormond said if Major Atkinson was the member for the district between Taranaki and the Waitotara River he had a great deal too much on his hands. One thing was certain, the Major did not extend his charity and favours more than 25 miles south of Taranaki. He was continually in hot water in Patea, and now the deputation came to Wavorley and backed him up. He (the speaker) was surprised at them. Mr Homer said he represented a deputation from Patea, and would like to ovpluJn what they had done thorn if the meeting would allow him. Leave having been given,Mr Homer then said that as they now had a sufficient population to entitle them to a representative they should take advantage of the Redistribution of Seats Bill and endeavour as a joint County to obtain their representative. He thought it behoved all in the Waverley Riding to consider whether they should not, along with the Patea County, go in for direct representation and the consolidation of the County. He trusted that at the adjourned meeting they would give the matter their earnest attention. Mr Ormond said if any other member but Major Atkinson was put up they would join with them. "Mr Taplin said it was quite on the cards that the new member would be a Waverley man. Mr Aitchison Baid,as one of the deputation, he wished to disabuse the mind of the meeting of the idea that they (the deputation) had come to enlighten the darkness. They merely wished them to join with them in consolidating this grand country. Mr Coutts said he did not think they could improve on their representatives, but he thought it would be very much better if, under the new Bill, the Patea County should have a member of its own. They would be more likely to receive a fair share of thepublic revenue if they had one member for the whole County, instead of the County being diivded between the outside districts. The Patea people were not anxious that the representative should be a resident of their town. They wanted the best man for their member, and would willingly give their votes to a good Waverley man. Mr John Gibson, another of the Patea deputation, said that when business men came in a body as they had to this meeting there could be little doubt that they were looking after their own interests, and they were doing so. They considered that it would be incalculably to the benefit of both Patea and Waverley if they formed one whole County. Mr Ormond wanted^a new Government altogether, and he would have one. The resolution that this meeting adjourn till next Tuesday night at 7.30, was put and carried. Mr Homer, 'on behalf of the deputation, thanked the meeting, and the business closed with a vote of thanks to the chair.