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Lowana Separation.
PENGUIN. DISCUSSION.
SUPPORTING THE MINISTER.:
At the Penguin. Council meeting on
Monday, ' ?
Cr. Pullen said he desired to again
draw attention to the vexed question
of Lowaua separation. No, ' doubt
members had noticed that a letter
was published m the press from the
Minister referring to a letter for
warded by a couple of residents of
Lowana. The Avarden of Leven had
addressed a letter . to Mr. Hean, and
he (Cr. Pullen) felt that the whole
thing was a misrepresentation of
facts, and in no way -explained the de
cision arrived at when the conference
was held in Hobart. He took, excep
tion to 'the statements of the War
den, and wrote to the press in reply.
The account given by the Minister was
as nearly correct as possible. The
whole question was discussed, be
tween the four representatives in com
pany with! Mr. Belton, and at the con
clusion they had arrived no nearer a
solution, and he asked if the Minister
could come down and settle the mat
ter himself. Mr. Hean, in reply, said
he could do so. But in that day's is
sue of the 'Advocate' Cr. Bingham
referred to a conversation between the
Minister and the Leven councillors
while on the way from1, the Minister's
office to the Local Government Con
ference. . He, however, contended the
meeting was officially concluded when
they left the office. He desired to
confine himself to facts, and. looked at
the statement made by the Minister to
Warden of Leven arid Cr. Bingham as
ordinary schoolboys' talk, and not to
be' taken seriously. Ho thought they
should enter an' emphatic ' .protest
against two strange' men .coming _ to
the district and deciding a question
(which they knew , nojhing about),
upon evidence given by men m favor
of the Levon, claims. ...
Cr M'Hugh endorsed the senti
ments- voiced/by. Cr. Pullen
The Warden also supported Cr. Pul
len's statement and stated that Mr:
Joshua. Stones had informed him in
Ulverstone a few days ago that tho
Leven Council has no possible hope of
ever setting a tram up the nver, and
this was the reason put forward by
Leven for desiring to secure Lowana.
Cr. Counsel stated that Mr. An
drew had said that originally he waa
wavering on the matter, but that the
Warden iof Penguin 'sat on him,
since which time he had been m favor
of separation. Cr. Counsel said that
while the benefit to Leven would bo
small the loss of Lowana to Penguin
would be disastrous. _
Cr. Pullen said he was m favor of a
counter resolution to that or the Lcven.
Warden, who he claimed had misstated
actual facts. The matter had been
discussed in the Leven Council, and,
added Cr. Pullen, 'my word, they can
Cr Yaxley remarked that it ap
peared from Cr. Bingham, .that the
Minister had said something to the
Leven councillors when tho Penguin
representatives were not present, so
that they would require to handle the
question- very delicately.
Cr. Pullen asked if they could not
pass a resolution to the effect iJiat
they had every confidence in the Min
ister's statement. , .r.
Cr M'Hu'h contended that the Min
ister should decide the matter, and
not the magistrates. .
The Warden said ho did not think
the Minister was in a hurrr about the
business, and he considered that Mr.
Hean's decision would be to anow
things to remain as they ware.
Cr. Mainwaring moved the lol.ow
ing resolution:— 'Seeing a discuss-on
has taken place in the Leven Council
Tiniing' the Minister to take fwthr-r
steps with, regard to the proposed Lo
wlana .separation, this council desire
to cay they consider the Minister's
version of the case was correct, and
draw attention to. the fact that :f the
Minister were to pay a visit to tie lo
cality as agreed upon in Hobart ti*re
would be no need for the'appoiaiment
of justices.' ' ?-'?.'??'
Cr. Counsel seconded the ' motion,
which was carried.
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