NORTHLAND MATTERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 528, 8 June 1909, Page 3

NORTHLAND MATTERS.

■. ■ ———» ■— DEPUTATION TO MR. J. P.- LUKE. . . ..■■■-■ THE RATING QUESTION. A.deputation, fram-tho Northland Municipal Electors' Association waited on Mr. J' l'. Luko,?M.P. and Oity Councillor, yesterday; in connection with certain grievances of tiiie residents of tho district. . ' ; Mr. J. Aston] president of tho association, said that when Northland amalgamated with the city a financial.adjustment was to have taken place, and he .contended that the City Council, and not tho Karori Borough Council, should collect tho Northland rates. Ho understood that "the- question of the adjustment of accounts had never been before tho City. Council as a whole, and-the deputation wished to know why the commission asked for.had not been set up.. Was Mr. Palmer ' ( (City Town Clerk), he asked, acting on his own initiative in writing to tho Karori Council requesting that tho adjustment he made to tako effect from July 1, arid afterwards stating' that tho matter was to be settled by a test caso in Court? Ho wanted to know who was to. defend .the case—the ratepayers or tho City Council? A deputation which had waited on tho Mayor (Dr. Newman) recently had been given to understand that tho council would see to the matter. Tho tramway, he added, was another subject in, dispute. A loan was sanctioned by'Karori' and Northland for tho construction'. of tho tramway, and to make the recreation ground, etc., and it was stated that tho interest and sinking fund.,would wipe out tho loan in twenty-fivo years. Were they to'continue' paying, rates for that period ■ and to get nothing in return? The ratepayers wished' that the City Council would'deal with'the matters referred to at its next meeting, and the commission and adjustment bo attended to as. promptly as possible. He mentioned' in conclusion, that a. number of ratepayers had obtained legal advice, and acting, on this hod refused to pay rates to Karori. ■ . In reply, Mr.- Imko said that tho question of rates had lately been considered by tho Finance Committee of the City Council and the Oity Solicitor advised t.liat tho rirrht course tn adont was to pav the rates to the Karori Council. Complications of.a like natiiro occurred when the umalganwtion of tho Molrose Bnroiish took place. If this Question wns left-in tho hands of the council he thought jiisticn-whnltl.be done -.lie was'not in fa-voin- of a. W, caso. As Was lay in liis power, ho would nromise to seo n proner ndiustment efferted, and iio would brinrr tho natter up at tho next meeting of tho Finance Committee.