COUNTY AND BOROUGH.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 1110, 17 June 1913, Page 3

COUNTY AND BOROUGH.

PETITION TO HAVE PORTION OF BOROUGH MERGED INTO COUNTY.

A deputation consisting of Messrs R. J. Thompson, R. Kempster, W, S. Carter, R. Rand, H. C. Easton, and Lantz.

waited on the Borough Council last night and presented a petition asking that the eastern portion of the borough from Spring Street to Nye Street should be merged into the Manawatu County. The deputation was introduced by Cr Read..

The Mayor pointed out that according to the standing orders the petition could not be considered until next meeting of the Council, but the Council would hear the deputation and their requests would be considered at the next meeting.

Mr Thompson said that the portion of the Borough referred to in the petition was rural land and was never likely to be anything else. They were taxed very high under the unimproved value system and as they were not likely to get any benefits from the Borough they desired to be merged into the Manawatu County and their reason for approaching the Council was to get them to take the first steps. The present Council ’ had been elected on a progressive ticket and it could hardly be expected that the ratepayers which he /represented were going to support any improvements, for which they would be rated and hot receive any benefit.

Mr Carter said the landowners in the affected portion felt that they were under an unfair tax on account of the unimproved value rating, and the land asked to be cut off would never be any use for residential purposes—it was purely farming land. He understood also that the present Council intended to further consider water and drainage proposals, and if sanctioned, the ratepayers in the area referred to would be further rated and would get no benefits. The Mayor pointed out that in the event of a water arid drainage scheme being, carried, a special area would be set up so that those who did not benefit would not be rated. He said the petition would be dealt with at the next meeting of the Council. A similar petition had been received some years, ago, and the Council then opposed the proposed division. Cr Baker, Who was one of the petitioners at that time then petitioned the Minister, and the Council also did the same, but nothing further was heard of it. In dealing with the matter the Council had to consider the amount of rates that would be lost if the request were acceded to, and also what benefit the borough would receive in the way of reduced maintenance of the roads in the affected area. In any case he felt sure the-Council would deal with the matter in a fair way as a business proposition. Mr Carter thanked the Council for hearing their views, and the deputation withdrew.