STATUS OF OHOPE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 20, 2 November 1943, Page 4

STATUS OF OHOPE

THOUGH comparatively few realise it Ohope is destined to become one of the most popular beach resorts in the Dominion. The move by the County Council to give its residents the chance of becoming an independent self-gov-erning community by the formation of a Town Board, such as administrates the affairs of the settlement at Mount Maunganui, is an opportunity which should not be disregarded. Its consideration should be with an earnest eye to the future, and to the natural expansion and potential importance of the beach. If such an administrative Board is set up, the benefit of the planning and laying out of the beach residential area by persons directly concerned and living on the spot will be possible. A fair rate levy may be imposed the application of which is the Board's responsibility, and the whole of which must be spent for the: betterment of the area defined. The move has much to commend it and we trust the ratepayers concerned will not dismiss the proposal lightly or as impracticable. A feature to be borne in mind is the fact that for the same rate levy as ruling now, a Town Board, by virtue of government subsidies and collection of its own heavy traffic licenses etc., would have approximately three times as much money to spend on its development than at present.