PROGRESSIVE TUAKAU.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 123, 29 August 1913, Page 2

PROGRESSIVE TUAKAU.

Wants a Town Board. Approval of Residents. Over 100 residents of Tuakau assembed in the Litararv Hall last night to diacus3 tha question of whether it was desirable to form a Town Board for Tuakau. Mr A. H. Tapper, secretary of the Progressive League, outlined the work of tha League in securing information and the steps that had been taken to call the meeting. Mr Dyne 3 Fulton wai elected to the chair. Mr G. Wilkinson, chairman of the Ellerslie To*n Board, was the first speaker. In his opening remarks he referred to tne backward appearanca of the town. whi:h resembled Ellerslie soma few years aco. To illustrate the benefits Ellerslie had secured he stated that four years ago wh;n it fcecame a Town Board the debit balance was £245; now it was £25. The capital value when they came into existence was £150,000; now it was £208,000, the increase being largely due to the erection or buildings. Now ihey had a fire brigade, water supply, 12 gas lamps, and the rates were only lid. The ratepayers had just sanctioned a £17,000 loan for drainage, water extension, and road improvement. If Tuakau became a Town District it would progress in a similar manner.

Mr Willis, chairman of the Papakura Town Board, pointed out that the community of interests in a closely-settled wa? all in favour of a town district. Roads, drainaga and water supply were necessary to a community. In Papakura, when the Town Board first came into existence, there was only ona metalled road; now nearly every road was metalled. He considered the town district, which was the stepping stone to a borough, waa one of tha most useful institutions for small communities. If they ferm:d a town district in Tuakau it would be one of the best things they evir did. (Hear, hear). The chairman, as their representative on the County Council, supported a Town Board. Whether under a Road Beard or a County, Tuakau could never be progressive. The County Council had only £l6O a year h rates for Tuakau and the country around it. There were demands for the money which would eat up all the ratis twice over without spending one penny in Tuakau. The Cjunty Council favoured a Town Board and would help in every way they could. He spoke strongly in favour of a Town Board, and believed they could keep their roads anl fostpaths in better order for a smalhr rate than the County would strike this year. Mr Tapper quoted figures from the Raghn and Hunily Town Board. He estimated that the revenue of a Town Board in Tuakau at a Id rate would be £236. la addition to this there would be license fees. The chairman remarked that the estimate was very low. Mr Poland: What subsidy do you gel from the Government? The ctairman: Five shillings to the £.

Mr Poland, continuing, criticised the condition of the roads as disgraceful. He asked far a Hat of the settlers who would be included in the area. He thought that the increase of the valuation at Ellerslie was caused as much by the increase in the piiceof land a* by the Town Board. The chairman said that Mr Poland's remarks about the bad roads proved the necessity •of a Town Board. Because the rates were spent on the Beach road the County Couneil had no money to spend on the Tuakau roads. Mr Poland: How will the eettlera come in if they have uot get any loads? . The chairman: There will still be the County Council to attend to the 1 ??.

Mr Poland expressed djubts it the Town Board would have enough revenue to do the roadg. "I suppose the first thing the Board will do is tj raise a loan?" (Laughter), The chairman: Don't you think it would 02 good business to utilise the rates in paying interest on a loan spent in the Town Board area, rather than having them spent en the Beach road? (Hear, hear.) Mr Wilkinson pointed out that there had been no revaluation of the L'llerslie town district since it cams into existence. Therefore the increase in the valuation must be in buildings and improvements. Mr Tapper said he thought the' salary ot the clerk would be about £3O, and he had a room which the board could have for meetings free of charge. (Applause). In reply to a question he stated that roughly the suggested boundaries were as follows:—Start at junction of cki Whangarata read and River road, in a lire to Pukekohe road behind Catholic Church and Mr J. J. Dromscol's to Mr Hastings', thence in a straight line across the railway line to Mr Leaman's, thence across to Mr Young's, from Mr Craig's to Mr W. Smeed's, thence along old Whangarata road to starting point. Mr Dromgcpl: Should there be a Town Board what amount of monty would they borrow? The chairman: That is f.r the Board to say. They might not borrow at all. Mr Dromgool: How far will £3OO go in keeping up rive miles of road. The chairman: How far does it go now? You will not have so many roads to keep up as the Council has now. Mr Gubb asked what was the road .mileage the Raglan Board had to keep up? The chairman said the secretary had not got this information. Mr Gubb criticised the League for not having secured this information. He described the state of the "new road" as disgraceful consilering the money spent on it. The chairman said not one penny had been spent by the County Council on this road. The money was still in hand to be spent, Mr Wilkinson said in his district there was three-quarters of a mile of the Great S;iuth road to maintain. Mr Willis said his Board had about 15 miles of roads to keep up, and this included the Great South road and two other main roads. His Board had only raised one loan of £1250, and when the Board came into being the revenue was only £l5O.

Mr Gubb wanted to knoiv what assurance there would be that the Ccucty Council would not strike a rate on the top of the Town Hoard rate. The chairman: Th:y can't do it. The Council are to a man willing, should there not be sufficient people, to guarantee they will r.ot strike a rate. Mr Gubb wanted to know how the "new road" special area would fare? The chairman said the position would be as at present. The special area would remain the fame whether the trea came under the County or the Town Board's jurisdiction. Mr Booker watted to know if people cut up propsitiea would the Town Board have to take ever the roada? The chairman said the Bo>rd would make their by-laws, and people cutting up their properties would have to comply with them Mr Poland a>ksd if fresh County Councillors were elected wh-«t warranty was there that th; Council would not strike a rate? The chairman eaid the County Council would give an Order-in-Council to that effect if it was wanted. Mr Willis pointed out that if a town district had bOO population it could claim exemption from the Counties Act. Mr Poland: That's satisfactory, anyway. Mr Tapper explained the voting; franchise in a town district, emphasising the fact that in the matter of lua.a voting was restricted to ratepayers. Mr Dromgocl: What is the coit per chain for concrete keibing and channelling? The chairman was unable to give the information. Mr Poland wanted to know the position of the outsida ratepayers if those in the centre of the township wanted water and drainage. Mr Tapper said a special ratirg area could be declare!

Mr Geraghty: The trouble is that we will bave gas end water and asphalted footpaths and Mr Poland von't have them. (Laughter). Mr Gubb: Can't you rate above ljd for special rates? The chairman: Yes. tne limit fur a general rate is ljd. You can raisa as many special loans as you like provided two-thirds of the ratepayer 3 vo'e in favour ol them. Mr Gubb: What do yi.u reckon it will ccst psr chain to keep up the roads? lhe chairman: It's not postible to say what it will cost, Mr Gubb: Did not you spend £81! on one mils of road on the Beach road? The chairman: Yep, but there's no ether bit of road in the Tuakau riding as bad. It's no criterion. Mr Gubb commented on the condition of the road) which would take, a grest deal to put in order. The chairman said metal had been ordered for patching hut had cot arrived. Mr Gubb: Will the rates you get in keep the reads in a n't and proper state? The chairman; 11 they won't, well, things will be pretty bad. At the present time their money was being spent on roads outside of Tuakau. Mr Willis: If Mr Gubb will come to Papakura we will show him how we msde our roads on a smaller iacome than Tuakau will have. Mr Gubb: How is it, that if Papakura has had a Town Board for 20 years it ha 3 not progressed until the last few vcars? Mr Willis: It is just the same everywhere else. Mr W. Glasgow moved, That Tuakau be formed into a Town Board District. Mr Madill, in seconding the resolution, speke strongly in favour ot a Town Board, urging that everybody would sign the petition when they realised the advantages to be gained. Mr Gubb moved an amendment, That the matter be deferred to perniit of fuiler information. Mr Poland seconded the amendment. The amendment was put asd lost, only five hands being raised for it There was an overwhelming show of hands fo- the motion, and the announcement of ths chairman that it was carried wss greeted with louJ applause. Heatty vutes of thanks were accorded to Messrs Wilkinson and Willis for their kindness m attending the meeting, an.l to the chairman and the secretary.