AMALGAMATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1021, 14 October 1903, Page 3

AMALGAMATION.

SITTING OF THE COMMISSION

Tho Amalgamation Commission, under bho Presidency of the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Mr E. C. Gold-Smith, resumed its sitting yesterday, when further ovidenco was given in support of tho petition favoring amalgamation. Allen Leonard Muir, journalist, residing at Whataupoko, deposed that he was a ratepayer in that district. Ho considered amalgamation highly desirable, and the boundaries proposed were very fair. One reason for amalgamation was under present conditions tho town was unfairly presented outside. The population of Gisborne was given in tho Year-book as 2787,. and this gave people outsido the impression that it was merly a fishing village. Tho population of Gisborne and suburbs was over 0000. The misrepresentation referred to considerably hampered husinoss. Witnoss believed that with a greater Gibborno there would be cheapor and better administration. The present limitations | of tho Borough were unnatural and unwise. Nature had set boundaries for the city in tho hills surrounding tho city. Witness had been ten years resident of Whataupoko, and during that time ho bad paid between £6O and £7O in rates. There was no formed footpath to his house, although he lived within a chain’s throw of the business portion of the town. He had had to form his own footpath. To his recollection the county drain had never boen cleanod. Under a municipality ho thought be would receive better treatment, thoy certainly could not get worse treatment. The County Council had done nothing to assist him, nor was the locality getting any benefit. To Mr Sievwright: His property was bounded by three roads. Stout street had a footpath on one side. One of the streets past his property was very wet, and children could not get to school dry-shod. Ho admitted that the VVhataupoko Board had done a great deal in the district. To Mr Cnrisp: Witness thought the terms of amalgamation specified by the Borough Council were very fair. He was willing to give all this in order to get into tho Borough. He recognised that they must make concessions. , To Mr Lysnar: He was prepared to concede tho Borough a great doal in order to admit tho suburbs. J. A. Harding, hotel-keeper,and a member of the Borough Council and Chairman of tho Kaiti Boad Board was next called. He stated that at tho time the amalgamation agreement was drawn up ho was a ratepayer of the three districts. He thought the boundaries were very fair. He did not think there could bo two opinions as to the desirability of amalgamation. He did not know of a single legitimate argument against it. TJntil recently it was almost impossible to get along the main footpath of Kaiti (Wainui Boad), and the County Council would not do anything. The Kaiti Boad Board spent £25 on the footpath, and were told that in doing so they were doing an illegal action. Tho qnestion of bridges had to bo faced, and this could be done better if the town and suburbs amalgamated. The Kaiti Board had no plant beyond a few long handled shovels and a wheelbarrow. He could not speak as to what plant Whataupoko had. The Borough Council had a very serviceable plant. Sooner or later wator and drainage would be required for the suburbs. Witness was acquainted with the terms of amalgamation laid down by the Borough, and as far as the suburbs were concerned, tho latter had everything to gain and nothing to lose. The proposed forms of amalgamation wero several times published. Tho Boad Board,was awaro and approved unanimously of them, but protested for the reason that they wished tho right to appear before the Commis sioner. Witness was appointed to repre

sent tha Board, but could not commit them to amalgamation. He thought the fairoat way was to tako a poll on tha question. To Mr Nolan :As Jar as he was iaware, the only member of the Kaiti Board opposed to amalgamation was Mr Keefer'. The Board thought the fairest way to decide the question ■was to take a polls Witness was (satisfied that the rates were less in the borough than in the suburbs. To the Commissioner : New bridges .would soon be required. W. Gaudin, journalist, thought amalgamation was highly desirable. Witness pointed out that the popular tion ol Gisborne Was given in the Australasian Guide hooks as 2,700, instead of 5,000. ,T.o go in ior a loan of £75 L OOO at present meant a liability of about £3O per head,, but with amalgamation it would be only about £2O. .Under amalgamation, the suburbs would have the 'benefit of all the conveniences which -the Borough now enjoys.- Prom a suburban point of view, especially, it was to be welcomed, as it. meant cheaper rating. The capital .value of'the Borough was £405,527, and the amount derived in rates £3848 4s; Whabaupoko value, £110,602, and the amount paid in rates £957 2s ; •the value of Kaiti £96,229, and the amount paid in rates £896 0s 9d. Mr Matthews : Those are Lysnar s figures ; I can recognise them. Mr Lysnar : They are not my figures ; I have not even seen them. Continuing, witness said there was not a single argument against amalgamation. By taking in t the suburbs, they; would be able to go in | for water and drainage, and the security offered for the loan would enable them to get the money at a lower rate of interest than they would otherwise do. To Mr Sievwright : The County Council had expended the money received from the Road Boards to the best advantage. He understood the Council showed both Whataupoko ajid Kaiti to be in debt in regard to the main roads. To Mr Nolan ; It was. difficult to arrive at a comparison between the rates paid in the Borough and suburbs, on account of the different systems of valuation that existed. In the borough the rateable value fluctuated ; sometimes it was six and eight per cent, of the capital value, and sometimes ten and twelve ppr cent. 1 , ... To Mr Chrisp : The terms lard down by the Borough Council were reasonable, with the exception ol hotel licenses. The suburbs contributed towards the vialuc of the licenses and should benefit proportionately. Geo. Grant, surveyor, a ratepayer of Whataupoko and Gisborne, thought the proposed boundaries were reasonable. One or two amlendments might, perhaps, he made with advantage. He considered that under wise administration amalgamation would be beneficial. Witness paid a County rate, but got little advantage. lie recognised that the Council had a great deal of expenditure on the outlying roads. By amalgamation, they wo.uld have a better chance of brifigios. Property in the suburbs had recently gone up to a very high figure, so that it had become town property. If the County Council rated on the increased valuations, they would have a very large revenue. The suburbs required water and drainage ns much as the I town.

J. W. VVhinray, cabinetmaker, and a member of the Borough Council, stated that he had seen the plan show ng the proposed boundaries, anil he considered it satisfactory, with the amendment suggested by the Commissioner that the 'line should be carried a little further hack so as to include the lower watershed. By amalgamation, many conflicting interests would be avoided. Amalgamation was an absolute necessity in promoting public works. The interests of the town and suburbs were identical,i one requiring • watelr and drainage just as much as the other. The suburbs would have representation the same as the borough. To Mr Matthews : He worked hard to defeat the Borough poll, and was glad to say that ho was successful. “ I think I rendered signal 'service to the community,” remarked Mr VVhinray, “ in opposing a work that I considered doubtful and problematical. If we amalgamated, we could go in for. a scheme that would giVe satisfaction to the three places. The suburbs require water and drainage just as much as Gisborne. They, are more thickly populated tiiaq the bull

of the borough.” Continuing, witness said that he would willingly su'bmit to be rated for water and drainage, if the residents of i»hc suburbs were participants. Many portions of Whataupoko were more thickly, built upon than the borough. Captain Tucker appeared, and asked to bo hoard on the question of the boundaries of Kuiti, and after consultation with those favoring tbo petition a boundary line was agreed upon. , . .. . Mr Nolan objectod to any deviation of the boundaries without the consent of the petitioners. . The Commissioner : This petition gives me authority to make any alteration in the boundaries that I may deem fit. Captain Tucker : It would bo a manifest injustice to closo your ears to persons who say that they were seriously injured. Charles W. Ferris, licensed interpreter, stated that ho was a momber of the Whataupoko Road Board at the time the agreement was arrived at by tho local bodies. The Board approved of the Borough Council’s terms as tho basis of amalgamation. No objection was made at the time, the Road Board being m accord with the proposals. Ho had seen the suggested boundaries, which weie at the time deemed very fair, as they included the thickly settlod part and excluded the thinly settled part. Witness was aware that there was a dcsiro for better bridge accommodation, and thought amalgamation would assist towards that end. He got no direct benefit from the rates paid to the Council. He considered amalgamation was desirable. One of his greatest reasons was that it would help them to get water and drainage for the town. Witness thought they would have a much greater ! chance with amalgamation of obtaining water and drainage. To Mr Nolan; By amalgamation he thought that one-fourth of the area of Whataupoko would bo taken into the Borough. This was the chief revenue portion. He did not consider thiß an injustice to those outside, for they would have roads made up to tho boundary. To Mr Matthews: At a meeting at Whataupoko attended by 40 ratepayers the majority were opposed to amalgamation.

To Mi; Lysnar : Moat of the roads which were to be taken over were not improved. By amalgamation be could not see that any injustice was done to those persons who were left out.

W. Pettie, draper, carrying on business in Gisborno and residing on Kaiti, said he had seen the plan comprising the area to be amalgamated, and the boundaries seemed to him to be reasonable. He was acquainted with the terms of amalgamation as specified by the Council, but had not given them careful study. Witness though It highly desirablo to amalgamate ; id was a. wise and progressive step. The town would become more important in its own eyes and in the eyes of the outside world. A far better scheme of water and drainage could be undertaken by the three places. Witness lived on the County road but got little assistance from that body. ffnnfinner! nn nn.frn d.

D. M. Orr, produce merchant, deposed that he livod on the far boundary of Whataupoko. Ho favored the amalgamation from every point of view. Ho could not see one argument against it. Mr Nolan: Ho is reading his speech. (Laughter.) Mr Lysnar : Ho has the reasons written down. Let him go on. (Laughter.) Continuing, Mr Orr said : “ There is no | question (from any standpoint) to my mind but that it would bo to the advantage of each body to amalgamate. I can can conceive no valid reason against it either sentimentally or commercially. I pay £1 a year rates. This year not one penny has been expended in my locality. Last year I had to expend £2 out of my own pocket in order to make tho road passable. I say, as at present constituted, the Road Board is simply a farce. There is no supervision, no check, no system ; only those who nag get anything spent, and after expenses of administration are takon into account there is very little left to spend.” Continuing, witness said that amalgamation wouid assist them to get over tho question of the bridges. Tho County road was even better than those of the Road Board.

George M-itfchowson, Chairman of tho Amalgamation Committoo, being recalled, atatod that the committee wont to the trouble of obtaining information from all possible sources. He produced a series of questions which tho committee asked Mr DeLautour, aud his replies theroto. These were put in as evidence. Mr Sievwright: I have the greatest respect for Mr DcLautonr’3 opinion, bub I refuse to accept it os binding on anybody. Witness, continuing, said that tho objection said to bo raised by the back settlers was simply a bogey brought forward by the opposition. The settlers w'ould suffer no disadvantage through amalgamation, but would have lull benefit for all rates paid. To Mr Nolan : Tho advice of all tbs best authorities was sought in regard to tho figures placed beforo the Amalgamation Committee. All the figures were obtained from official sources. Thomas B. i Sweet, tailor, residing in Whataupoko, thought that it .would bo advantageous for tho suburbs to bo amalgamated with Gisborne. Tie deemed it a great mistake to have too many local bodies. Better lighting would bo obtained by amalgamation, and tho cost of administration would bo less. Tho time had arrived for tho borough and suburbs to have water and drainage. Most of the business peoplo lived in the suburbs, and required water more in their homes than at thoir business places. It was no use having water and drainago in town if they did not have it in tho suburbs. W. D. Lysnar}. solicitor, member of tho Borough Couneil and ratepayer of Gisborne, Whataupoko, and Haiti, was fully satisfied from every point of. view that amalgamation was desirable both for the town and suburbs. Ijfe kuow of no legitimate reason agamst amalgamation. He had heard of bogeys being put up against amalgamation, hut thoy did not exist in reality. Everything in connection with the proposals of the Amalgamation Committee had been made public. At present the suburbs were rated up to their full legal limit as regards general rating. They wore rated at lid, on the capital value, which was equal to a rateable value of 2s in the £. In addition the suburbs .paid a Charitable Aid Board rate of in the £. The Borough Council did not rate up to the full limit, but only up to Is 9d, which was threepence less than tho suburbs and no Charitable Aid Board rate. Whilst the Borough ratepayers paid less they enjoyed money benefits chat tho suburbs did not possess.* The suburbs had no Inspector of Nuisances. In the Borough tho ranger did the duties for tho pouudago fees, whilst in-Whataupoko the ranger received £SO a year end in Haiti £ll por year. Mr Matthews; 'That is only for tho present. , Continuing, Jjysniti' so-id thut if amalgamation took place the Boroqgh ranger would do all duties, and there would bo a saving of £6l per year, and tlioro would be a similar saving in regard to the sanitary inspector. By amalgamating the services f)f a qualified engineer could be obtained. Whilst tho local bodies were trying to do their best there wore leakages. On the question of lighting there was r.o provision ur.dor tho Act for providing lights, but they should not allow this to continue. Until thoy got amalgamation they could not get proper bridge accommodation. Thero was the question of water and drainage, "lie was positive that no proper scheme could bo obtained without amalgamation. Witness put in as evidence a copy of the Whataupoko Eoad Board’s balance-sheet for 1903, from which the Commissioner would see that the goneral revenue was £379 10s 9d, of which amount there was £BO for administration, which worked out at about 221per cent. Witness also put in the balance-sheet for Whataupoko for 1902, the cost of administration being about 25 por cent. The figures given did not include ranging, poundage, or sanitation. Tho balance-sheets of the Haiti Boad Board for tho same periods showed tho cost of administration to be 15 and 23 per 1 cent, respectively. Tho cost of administration for tho Borough for 1901 was 7’3 and for 1903 a iittlo over 10 per cent. As showing the necessity s for Whataupoko going in for water and drainage, the subject °had already bceu dealt with by tho Board, and a rogort drawn up. At a conference of all local authorities and Gisborne Freezing Works a resolution was passed approving of amalgamation as the first moans to obtaining a proper water ■ any drainage scheme. To Mr Sievwright: The petitions for amalgamation of both suburbs were drawn up by Mr DeLautour. The Amalgamation Committee had charge of tho petition. Tho petitions were not left in any public place for signature, but were taken round by members of the Committee. A separate copy of the petition was attached , to each sheet for signature. The rental values of Haiti and Whataupoko were worked out on an 8 per cent, basis. Under the Boad Board they were rated up to the maximum. In the suburbs they were in proportion paying more on the rateable value than in the Borough. To Mr Matthews : The ratepayers of Whataupoko at tho public meeting wore opposed to amalgamation, but the meeting was packed by servants of the Board. At tho timo the petition was in circulation the majority of the members of the Board were in favor of tho amalgamation. Mr Nolan said that the evidence of those opposed would not be as lengthy as that given in favor of amalgamation. Mr Lysnar expressed a desiro to call Messrs W. L, Bees and C. A. DeLautour before closing the case fer the petitioners. The Commissioner said he would allow the gentlemen mentioned to be .called if thoy were present beforo the Commission ended.

At tka request of Messrs Nolan and Sievwright, an adjournment was then granted until Thursday morning at ten o'clock.