PAPATOETOE DISTRICT.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 635, 24 May 1921, Page 5

PAPATOETOE DISTRICT.

PROPOSED BOROUGH. APPROVED BY RESIDENTS. TOWN BOARD'S FINE REPORT. Continued from Tuesday. Roads. All local bodies now realised that it was impossible to make good permanent roads out of rates. To have really good roads it was necessary to borrow, and it was just as necessary to have good up-to-date roadmaking machinery. It was always much easier for a borough to raiase money than it was for a small town district. Moreover, a decent-sized borough would be able to afford all necessary machinery, whereas a town district would have to depend on the hire of a plant from some other local body. This was never very satisfactory as had been found out. In hiring from the Manukau County Council they had to take the plant when the Council could best spare it, no matter whether that was a convenient time or not. If a borough was formed they thought the Council, before considering loans for roads, should raise money for the purchase of machinery for quarrying metal and the forming of roads. Subsequent loans for road-making purposes would go much further if good machinery was available than if the Council had to depend on hired machinery or, worse still, on hand labour. Electric Light. The Town Board had not lost sight of the advantage of procuring electric light, if possible. The chairman was sent as a represntative to a meeting, of local bodies interested in the matter. They were of the opinion that it would not be advisable for Papatoetoe to sink very much money in any venture that depended upon coal for the generation of electricity. However, if a temporary scheme that could be made to fit in when hydro-

electric power was available could be evolved, it would probably be worthy of support. They could get electric light only by combining with other districts, and as a borough they would have more say in the arranging of matters than they could hope to have as at present constituted. Rates and Improvements. In conclusion, we did not see why the formation of a borough necessarily means higher rates. Of course, if the people wanted drainage at the present time, they must be prepared to pay very high for it. With the comparatively small population and the long distance to any outlet they considered drainage quite out of the question. However they though that they should strive for a sanitary service, a water supply and better roads. In fixing boundaries they have as far as possible only taken in land that would very soon be suited for close settlement. In the meantime they did not consider that the owners of farming land within the proposed area will be called upon to pay higher rates than they were doing at present. Of course, and that was not yet suited for building purposes would be valued much lower than propertites in close proximity to the station. In fixing the boundaries the Board had kept in touch with some members of the Manukau County Council, and they did not anticipate any objections from that body. They felt sure that before many years the whole of the proposed borugh area would be comparatively closely settled, and Papatoetoe would then be the finest suburb in the vicinity of Auckland. The chairman stated that the area of the proposed borough was 4650 acres and would include 413 ratepayas against 373 at the present time. Mr Jordan spoke at length in favour of the proposals and moved the following motion: "In the opinion of this meeting the district of Papatoetoe should be constituted a borough." This was seconded.

Mr Hodge moved an amendment: “That this meeting considers that the time is not yet arrived ,in which this district should be formed into a borough,” but this was rejected by the meeting The motion was then carried.

Mr Jordan further moved “That the committee which has the matter in hand use all possible speed to prepare and present the petition.” The motion was carried and a large number of residents signed the petition before leaving the hall.