ST. ALBANS BOROUGH.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11487, 21 January 1903, Page 10

ST. ALBANS BOROUGH.

THE SEPARATION MOVEMENT, DEPUTATION tFtHE PREMIER. A deputation waited on the Premier yesterday in connection with itbe steps taken by v certain portion of the residents of St. AJbans to sever about 400 acres now. comprised in i3ie borough vita a view of having it incorporated in the Avon Road Board district. Mr T. H. Davey, M.H.K. (Mayor of St. Albans) introduced the deputation, which oonsisted of Councillor J»ewton an 4 Morley, the town clerk. Mr Davev briefly sketched the causes which had 'brought about .the petition for a eeveranoe of a portion of the borough, the chief of which was the allied unjust operation of th« rating on unimproved values on a number of small farmers, tenants mostly of the Church Property Trustees- He stated that the counu-r-petition was being largely signed, and pointed out the dwaelvantages which would result from the division of the borough. These were on the iinea mentioned at the spucial meeting ot t!h» Borough Council last Tuesday, and incorporated in the prayer of the counterpetition. There was, he said. a possibility that all the petitions might not be collected. in time for presentation,, and the deputation wished to bring under tlie Premiers notice tha fact that time was considerable opposition, and to have this taken mto consideration when the matter came before tne Government. , Mr Morley pointed out iliat tne great gritvanco of the petitioners had been removed by the lectni- valuation of the 'borough." Most of the rural lands in the borough had, at the time the rates under the rating on unimproved value system were struck, been valued at from £150 to £200 per acre, whilst land in the centre of the boroueh was valued at £150. Cr. "Newton also referred to the removal of the chief grievance of the petitioners. Mr Seddon, in reply, said that as a general principle, he did not believe in diminishing the size of local authorities; he preferred that thty should increase by amalgamation. The fact was rliat tb?y had too much local government, and there were too many of thwe local bodies, which meant wasteful expenditure and increased administrative cost. This would be avoided if the local bodies were leSaser in number. He did not like the principle that alter the majority had <lecidfcd on the rating on unimproved value system, a disappointed minority should seek to "cut the painter" and leave behind their share of their liabilities. Unless the law was imperative, he wou'.d not be inclined to agroe to the severance of a portion of a borough. Ho, himself, believed in the rating on unimproved value system, as being the most economically sound and fairest system that could obta-.n. When the matter came before the Government they would have the two sides of the question bsfore them- He considered that there was something in the .■ contention, regarding the repudiation of liability by the portion severing, a* the security of the creditors who advanced money to the 'borough was impaired. If a portion of a borough could be severed without taking its portion of liabilities with it, the law should be altered so that it should carry its portion of liabilities. Although lie had only heard the ex parts statement made by the deputation, he presumed that Mr Davey, being the Mayor of the district, had put the matter fairly to him. He urged the deputation to have tfie petition completed and forwarded as quickly as possible. After thanking Mr Seddon, the deputation withdrew.