WATER AND DRAINAGE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1242, 7 May 1914, Page 3

WATER AND DRAINAGE.

RESTRICTED AREA. OR WHOLE BOROUGH? MAYOR WANTS REFERENDUM. At the special meeting of the Borough Council held on Tuesday evening, further discussion on the water and drainage question took place. The Mayor said that in view oi certain statements that had been made at the Council table and had appeared in letters in the press, he wanted to put himself right with the ratepayers as to the attitude he had taken up in this matter. It had been said that to include the whole borough would iuflict great hardship on the ratepayers in what is known as the excluded area, and as an advocate of the inclusion of the whole borough, he wanted to prove that this hardship referred to by opponents was really non-existent. He would produce figures showing that any sympathy in this matter should be with those in the restricted area, and uot those outside. After Councillors had heard his figures he felt sure they would agree that with the exception of one or two farmers, the ratepayers in the excluded area would not be unjustly treated by inclusion. The valuation, according to the - valuation roll, of the property in the restricted area was from to per acre, while that outside was only valued at from to per acre. His own property in Park street, two acres, was valued at whilst iust outside the restricted area there was a property of twelve acYes valued at only £§o. He asked, in view of these figures, how any councillor could say that the ratepayers in the excluded area had been treated unjustly. The rate necessary to provide interest and sinking fund on a loan if struck over the whole borough would be about 3% din the £. He would give a few instances of what this special rate, worked out at 3>£d, would amount to on certain properties outside the restricted area. There was a property of 6 1 / 2 acres, the valuation of which was and the extra rate on this property would ' amount to £2 7s 6d. Could anyone say, he asked, that this would be a heavy rate ? The rate would, without doubt, be heavier for the ratepayer in and about the town with a small section than for the man outside. The Mayor said that, in going minutely into the valuation of the borough, it was very noticeable how the unimproved values of land were reduced as the limits of the borough were reached, so much so that it was evident that the rates in the restricted area would be very much higher than those outside. While this was a right basis to work on, the instances of valuations he L would give would prove conclusively that in the majority of cases the properties in the excluded area were absurdly low, and quite out of proportion with those near by. The Mayor gave a number of instances, which appear in another column, of the amount of extra rates owners of various sized sections, both inside and outside the restricted area, would be called upon to pay if the loan were carried, which, he said, would prove beyond any doubt that the rate would fall more heavily on the ratepayers in the restricted area than those outside, and also that the majority of the properties outside the area were undervalued. Cr Chrystall interjected that the ratepayers inside the area would in return for their rates have the benefit of a water supply and drainage system, but those outside would not. Continuing, the Mayor said there were ratepayers in the area who had as much right to ask to be excluded as those outside, inasmuch as they owned building and grazing areas which they were unable to sell, and in consequence would be very heavily rated. Cr Kempster differed. He said those outside made their living off the laud, whereas the others referred to were just holding their sections. The Mayor said he was refuting a statement that had been made by a councillor that the owners of land in the excluded area were . unfairly and heavily rated. The \ figures he had given proved that with three or four exceptions, the rating on the properties outside was comparatively light. He maintained the valuations were quite out of proportion. A lot of dissatisfaction had been expressed by ratepayers in the restricted area at the action of the Council in not taking in the whole borough, and by the figures he had submitted he considered it was clear the whole borough should have been included. It had been said that if the restricted area were adhered to the poll would be lost. He sincerely hoped this would not be so. Statements had been made that he (the Mayor) was opposed to the scheme, and he desired to absolutely contradict this statement. He was stroa gly in favour of the proposal, and would do all he ,could to carry it, and if it were lost the fault would not be his. Cr Coley said that in every instance given by the Mayor the rates would be practically doubled, Some of the properties outside were valued too low altogether, but in other instances they were too high, and' the rates and interest per acre was more than could be made off the laud. The sooner a re-valuation of the borough was made the better. The Mayor said that on the figures submitted it appeared clear that those outside had uo more right to be cut out thau a number

in the area. Cr Whibley said he could uot agree with the Mayor that this was so. Cr Chrystall said that a petition was in circulation to which signatures were being obtained without sufficient explanation being given. If the majority of the ratepayers were of opinion that the whole borough should be included, then he would support it. The Mayor interjected: But you said in your letter to the press that it was legalised robbery. Surely you would uot support legalised robbery even if the majority of the ratepayers did favour it ? Continuing, Cr Chrystall said he had been told by ratepayers that they signed the petition under the impression that the whole borough was to be reticulated, and Cr Read in bis letter to the press stated that the mains are proposed to pass the properties in the excluded area, and they could be connected if they desired. This was not so. He contended it would be unjust to ask people to pay for something from which they got uo benefit. Cr Read said that owing to an accident sustained by him he was unable to go on with the petition. He was satisfied, however, that the minority of the Council had the majority oi the ratepayers with them. The petition would not now come before the Council. Cr Coley said he had heard that dozens of ratepayers had refused to sign the petition. Cr Read said he could contradict that statement. Cr Henderson was still of the opinion that the whole borough should be included. The Mayor said if the petition was not coming before the Council it would be advisable to “get a move on.” The motion in reference to the preliminary steps necessary in connection with the taking of a poll was read, and prior to being put to the meeting, Cr Chrystall said be would be prepared to allow the ratepayers to say whether tney favoured the inclusion of the whole borough and the reticulation of same. A poll would decide the question. The Mayor immediately produced a motion, which, he said in view of Cr Chrystall’s remarks, he would move, which read : “That in order to test the feeling of the ratepayers on the question of rating the whole or part of the borough for a water and drainage scheme, that a preliminary poll be taken, and the Council agree that the result of such poll shall decide the area to be taken.” The Mayor said that as it was not a full meeting he would make the above a notice of motion, to come forward at the ordinary meeting on Monday evening next. Cr Whibley said it was uot fair to hold over questions because some of the Councillors were not present. They all had received notice of the meeting and if they were in town should be present. He had cycled seven miles in order to be present and would have to cycle the same distance alter the meeting. Crs Coley and Henderson agreed that matters should not be held up because certain Councillors were uot present. Cr Coley mentioned that Cr Freeman was in bed and that was the reason he was absent. The Mayor said he would prefer to have the matter dealt with at the next meeting as then every Councillor would be notified that the matter was to come forward and none could make the excuse that it was dealt with in his absence and that he didn’t know it was coming forward. The suggestion was agreed to and the motion will consequently be moved at Monday evening’s meeting.

THE RATE NECESSARY. The Mayor submitted the following figures showing the area, unimproved valuation and amount that the special rate of in the £ would amount to on certain properties, both in the restricted and excluded areas :

Restricted Area. Unimp. Amt. Area Val. Rates. £ £ s d 2 acres 450 '6 II 3 38i 5 10 0 11 A ii 244 3 11 10 VA i> 360 5 5 0 i 140 200 4 880 12 16 8 % acre 405 5 18 0 A >> 317 4120 4 520 7 11 8 7H „ 430 6 5 5 8 „ 700 10 4 2 l 'A n 298 4 6 11 6 710 10 7 1 Excluded Area. Unimp. Amt. Area Val. Rates. £ £ s d 26 Yz acres 495 746 3 m 57 16 7 12 ,, 240 3 10 0 T2 ,, 163 276 14 183 2 12 6 24>^ 430 679 7'A „ 140 2 0 10 9 >> 360 5 5 0 3 ». 150 239 5 H » 120 I 15 0 15 326 4 15 1 12 ,, 80 1 3 4 ■6# „ 163 276 4 8 >> 1555 22 13 6