PROPOSED PAPATOETOE BOROUGH.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 651, 19 July 1921, Page 6

PROPOSED PAPATOETOE BOROUGH.

| OBJECTIONS BY COUNTY RATEj PAYERS MANUKAU COUNCIL’S ACTION. For some time past a movement lias been on foot to have a borough formed at Papatoetoe, and with this object in view, it was proposed to include the present Papatoetoe town district and portions of the Papatoetoe and Mangere ridings of the Manukau County. Opposition to inclusion in the proposed borough was expressed in petitions received by the Manukau County Council on Tuesday from ratepayers in the county area. To obtain the requisite number of ratepayers these portions of the county would have to be included. The petitions, signed by 68 ratepayers, drew the Council’s attention to an effort that was being made to form a borough in lieu of the present Papatoetoe .Town Board. The petitioners were not desirous of any alteration, but desired to remain in the Manukau County. The county had borrowed money for many purposes and looks to their properties to carry its share of liability. The general conduct of a borough was expensive and j if the Papatoetoe town residents re- j cmired it, it would be manifestly un- j just to expect the owners of surroun- j ding farm lands to find the money i necessary to carry out their scheme, j The county had large interests in | road machinery and plant and was j capable of filling the wants of the J district economically. The petition- ! 'ers thought the borough idea prema- j lure and in any case it should not be applied to strangle the producer for the benefit of the mere resident j occupying a small area with no productive value. They requested the Council to take the necessary steps ■ to prevent their properties being ab- ! sorbed into the proposed borough. In presenting the petitions, Mr W. ' Qliphant said that although 68 had signed there would be approximately 100 who were opposed to the proposal. There were several large farms ranging from 148 acre's, and from 35 acres to 11 abres. In all there would , be about 1007 acres containing 31 houses and the capital value of these '•

represented about £173,155. This would mean a- very heavy rate on these people. They desired to be kept in the county area because if they were included in the borough area they would be very severely rated, perhaps,, as was 'the case in many boroughs, on the unimproved value. They all knew what it meant if farm lands were rated on the unimproved value—it would be a great hardship on farms, and a heavy burden on the ratepayers He claimed that borough aoministration was generally more expensive than county administration. Under the proposal an area of 4650 ; acres would be included with a popu- j ia 1:ion of. only 1200, while Otahuhu J Borough Council’s area was 1408 acres

Jt!K* the population nearly 3000. Papatoetoe township was less suitable for their requirements than Otahuhu, their present centre. Another bad feature was that if the proposal was submitted to a poll, the county ratepayers would he outvoted, as under the Municipal Act the wives of ratepayers in the town district could vote while those in the county area were only entitled to their own vote.

They wanted to prevent it going to a poll. The objections'from the Otara district—their line of communication was Otahuhu. One of the principal .objections to the proposed new borough was that the local, body, would have power to establish a sanitary depot for the borough in the present Papatoetoe riding. This would be strenuously resisted. He believed the Council would not assist Papatoetoe with the establishemnt of a sanitary depot. A commission would sit shortly to hear objections to the proposal.

It was desirable to fight the matter now. A petition objecting to inclusion was also being sent to the Gov-

ernor-General

Other speakers contended the present time inopportune to constitute a borough. Farming lands were unsuitable to he placed under municipal control.

The chairman (Cr. Bell) said the Council would give the petitioners its

support. It would also endeavour to arrange with the Town Board regard-

ing location for a sanitary site

It was also decided to write to the Town Board stating that on behalf

of county ratepayers the Council would take aP steps possible to op-

pose the proposal to extend the present Town Hoard boundary for the

purpose of forming a borough. A committee consisting of Crs.

Waters. House, the chairman and engineer was appointed to confer with the Town Board relative to the location of a sanitary depot.