AMALGAMATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1020, 13 October 1903, Page 3

AMALGAMATION.

SITTING OF THE COMMISSION

At tho Government buildings yesterday the Commission to inquire into tho petition for the amalgamation of the suburbs of Whataupoko andKaiti was commenced, Mr E. C. Gold-Smith, Commissioner of Crown Lands, presiding. There was a fairly largo attendance of ratepayers, the Amalgamation Committee, and several local bodies interested, boing represented as follows : —Messrs Mattbowson and W. D. Lysnar (Amalgamation Committee), E. J. Chrisp (Borough Council), A. F. Matthews and W. Siovwright (Whataupoko Board), and J. W. Nolan (Kaiti Board), At the outset Messrs Siovwright and Nolan raised several questions of law, which the Commissioner tuado a noto of, remarking that he considered that the law officers had seen that everything was in order. His chief duties were to hear tho arguments for and against amalga-

mation. Mr Chrisp, on behalf of the Borough Council, placed boforo tho Commissioner the position tho Borough took up in the matter, and the terms upon which they wore agreeable to amalgamation. Mr Nolan contended that the agreement roforre-d to by Mr Chrisp had not been approved of by the Road Board. Thoy had not been consulted in tho muttor. After considerable discussion in regard to the point raised by Mr Nolan, the Commissioner decided to go on with the ovidence.

Mr R. D. B. Robinson, Town Clerk, furnished particulars of tho capital valuo of tho Borough aud suburbs. This year the capital valuo wap £465,527, as against £316,610 yoa *. Whataupoko this year was X&11185 and Kaiti £96,229. In tho Borough "there bad boon a re-valuation, but in tho suburbs there had been no re-valuations, the accretions being due to buildings going up. In 1901 the population of tho borough was 2150, Whataupoko 1100 odd, and Kaiti 700 odd. Tho population had considerably increased since the last census in 1901. The co3t of administration of the borough- on tho net revenue last year was 7*5 Three years ago tho cost of administration was 10 3. By Mr Nolan : All the money received by the borough was spent each year. By ! Mr Sievwright : G'adstone road received a great deal of tho expenditure. The back roads in tho borough wore not too good. To Mr Matthews : A number of the footpaths in tho borough wore not formed. A portion of Aberdeen road was not metalled.

Mr Chrisp suggested that time might be savod by tho Commissioner driving round tho town and suburbs and taking notice of tho roads.

By Mr Cbrisp : The Borough Council wero in favor of amalgamation so long aa their terms wero agreed to. To, Mr Nolan : Unless tho Borough Council’s terms wero accepted they did not want amalgamation. To Mr Sievwright : Tho Amalgamation Committoo, consisted of members appointed by the three local bodies. George Matthewson, Chairman of tho Amalgamation Committeo, stated that tho Committee was set up as tho result of a public meeting, it boing arranged that each local body should be represented on it. The Committoo met frequently and fixed approximato boundaries, which wore agreed to. The plan submitted showed the boundaries arranged. Every care was taken to consider all matters, drainage especially being a chief foafcure. Tho plan, included all tho thickly settled portions of Whataupoko and Kaiti. He did not think the proposed boundaries could be improved upon. A basis of arrangement was arrived at and agreed to by all parties. After the agreement was arrived at it was submitted to tho Borough solicitor, who discovered that the question of licenses and rentals from Borough rosorvos had been overlooked. This matter was amended, and a proviso included in tho agreement. This proviso was agreed to by tho Amalgamation Committee before the petition wa3 sent to Wellington, Before the Commission was set up witness had heard of no objection from any looal body. Full reports of the meetings were published. The terms of amalgamation were made public. He deemed amalgamation to be greatly to, the advantage of Kaiti and Whataupoko. All three bodies would benefit from it. At present half o' the Boad Boards’revenue went to the County Council, and consequently ihoroids suffered. By amalgamating they would have better security for borrowing, and the town would have a much better status. Trouble was always arising in regard to tho narrow strip that the Borough had in each suburb, and there was also the question of the construction of bridges to be considered. Witness considered it would bo a decided saving to the suburbs to amalgamate. There would be lesß cost of administration, and the machinery provided for the three places would be better. The rates in the suburbs were Boad Board and Jd County,and special rates. The Borough rates in tho Borough were less than the suburbs, and in the former place they had a great many more conveniences. No satisfactory drainage scheme could be obtained for Gisborne without the amalgamation of the suburbs. Tho proportions of Kaiti and Whataupoko which they asked to have amalgamated was really more in the town than many portions of tho Borough. The suburbs had no fire saving plant. , , To Mr Chrisp: If amalgamation had been carried out a month or two after the terms were drawn up there would have been no objection. To Mr Nolan : The agreement produced was drawn up before the petition in favor of amalgamation was taken round. He did not consider it necossary to tho agreemennt with the petition. The plan produced showed that tho area of the suburbs to be taken in was small, but the value large. Tho Kaiti Board passed a minute objecting to amalgamation, so that they could have a status to appear before the Commissioner. He thought the public wero still in favor of amalgamation, and that if a poll were takon it would bo carried by a largo majority. To Mr Sievwright: The local bodies could under tho Act arrange among themselves to construct any bridges that wore required. To Mr Matthews : Ho did not know that tho people of Whataupoko had expressed opposition to amalgamation, other than the counter petition. To Mr Lysnar : The districts affected would have more money to spend on roads if amalgamation took placo. To Mr Nolan : The terms of tho amalgamation committee were never referred back to the Boad Boards.

A letter written by Mr Sievwright to the Borough Council at tho time tho Amalgamation Committee was set up, oDjectiug to the decision arrived at, was put in. The Town Clerk gave ovidence as to the liabilities of the Borough. J. W. Bright, mannger of tho New Zea-

land Loan aud Mercantile Company, doposed that ho was a resident of Kaiti. He considered amalgamation would bo to the interests of that place. He lived on tho Wainui road, but could not got any money spent near his place. Witness gave particulars ns to the trouble his neighbors and himself had experienced in getting a few pounds spent by the County Council on the road. Before thoy could get anything at all they had to put their hands in their own pockets to the extent of £2O. Continuing, Mr Bright said : “ I am anxious to get in with somebody whereby paying a little money I can get something. As it is at present tho Kaiti Road Boaid spond all the money on the back roads, and the County Council will give ns nothing for tho front road. We are, so to speak, between the devil and the deep blue sea.” By Mr Chrisp : la a short timo Kaiti and Wbaiaupoko would require to go in for a drainage scheme. The population was increasing very fast. Witness did not consider it fair that the monies received from hotel licenses should be earmarked for the Borough alone, as was proposed under the agreement adopted by the Amalgamation Committee. It was tho suburban residents that rendered the number of hotels possible. Ho did Dot object to the rentals received from Borough rcaorves being spent in the Borough. Witness had always been in favor of amalgamation. Mr Chrisp said that in the Borough there were many streets and footpaths which woro not formod, and it was necessary to devote the monies from licenses and reserves to that purpose.

Mr Sievwright; How do you expect to better your position in Haiti by amalgamation ? Witness : By being under the control of a body who would.havo authority to spend money in exebangj for the rates that they collect on my property. I pay £lO a year and get nothiLg, not even the turn of a shovel. I want to come in with someone that can give us something. Mr Sievwright: What you really want is to have higher powers of assessment, so that you can get inon money to spend. Witness : No, I do not want that. I want to get something for the money 1 pay. At present we get absolutely nothing from the Haiti Bor.rd, and the County Council v/ill not spond anything on the road. The Haiti Board spends all the money on tho back roads and drains. Mr Sievwright: What money is spent on tho hack road ?

Witness : The Haiti Board spend everything there. They have miles and miles of back streots.

Mr Sievwright: You aro speaking for yourself only. ■Witness : That is what I came here for. I understand that this is the right time for stating my reason for wishing amalgamation, >.

Mr Lysnar ; Mr Bright is speaking for most of the settlers on the Wainui road. They are all in the same box. They cannot get anything out of tho County Council.

Mr Bright: I would not object so much if they rated us as rural lands, for then I could dig my own drain. But they rate us as suburban lands.

In answor to further questions witness said that as far as he could judge the proposed boundaries were very fair indeed. They could not hope to please everybody. The Commission then adjourned until this morning.