PUKEKOHE BOROUGH.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 3, Issue 217, 31 July 1914, Page 3

PUKEKOHE BOROUGH.

Reducing Its Size.

Borough Council Dis-

cussion.

A sp cial meeting of the Pukekhe Borough Council was Irld on Wednesday evening to consider the proposal to reduce the size of the borough by cutting off the "country" areas which, it is urged, have no community of interest with the town areas. Those present were: The Mayor (Mr Lawri), Crs Hamilton, Pollock, Hurley, McGough, Comrie, Hubbard, Beatty anl Bilkey. At the previous m?atingt, it will be remembered, a largely-signed petition from settlers on the hill was received asking for exclusion from the borough. An additional petition from the "northern people" was signed by W. J. Harper, Elijah rioose, C. J. Harper, S. J. Pepler. W. M. Smith:-"In accord with the reasons given by other ratepayers for the removal ot their properties from the rating area, we desire that our properties may also be removed."

Still another petition asked that in the readjustment the following bs excluded from the area:—J. Beatty, W. F. Baker, J. Carmichael, C. Anderson, T. Hogan, B. Beattv, G. Beatty, J. Adams and J. W. Dawe.

The Mayor said the Act strictly laid down the course to be followed, and the Council cculd not do very much that night. He suggested taking a census of the people inside the area proposed to remain as a borough. If there were 1000 people in that area then he would favour cutting off the "whole bally lot" of the rest.

The Town Clerk explained that 25 per cent, of all the people affected must sign the petition. If ttiere were objections thsn the Governor would appoint a Commission to take evidence and advi-e. Some discussion ensued rs to what should be done.

The Mayor said he thought this was an inopportune time to bring torward the boundary alteration proposal?. Cr Hubbard thought the time favourable because it the outsiders were cut out there would be a better chance of getting the proposed loans carried.

The Town Clerk suggested that if the Council were going to exclude any portion of the borough they should push the matter on and net the Governor's decision before taking the polls on the loan proposals. There was a good deal of loan money yet to be spent, the money having been authorised. If they got these loans carried they could not spend the money next summer. There was a considerable sum of money yet U be bpent, including balance of Town District Streets Loan, Street Improvenrnt Loan, Northern loan Hill No. 2, in addition to several amounts handed over by the Pukekohe West Road Board.

In regard to the first petition the Town Clerk said that only four settlers affected had not signed— Messrs Johns, R. Bailey, Barter and Cougblin. Still the signatures would probably not be sufficient because only ratepayers bad signed and all those entitled to .vote for the election of a councillor were eligible to sign the petition, and 25 per cent, of such persons require to sign the petition to give it a legal standing. It was pointed out that the removal of the butter factory would entirely alter the range of road traffic and soon Puni road would be the most important.

Cr Comrie suggested that they should appoint a committee to lay off the boundaries that the Council required. When the area had been determined to the Council's satisfaction they could get the people outside that area to petition for exclusion from the borough. He moved to that effect.

Cr Hamilton: How are you going to get the outside people to come in?

Cr Comrie: We can petition for them to be brought in. He named Crs Pollock, Hamilton, Beatty, Hubbard and the Mayor at the committee to fix the boundaries. Cr Hubbard s2conded the motion, which was carried unanimously. Cr Hubbard moved, That as soon as the committee had decided on the boundaries a census be taken of the people within the area. This was seconded by Cr Pollock and carried.

The committee then proceeded with the work of denning the proposed new borough boundaries. The result will be reported to the'next meeting of the Council.