ONE TREE HILL TO PAY INCREASED RATES

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 42, 12 May 1927, Page 7

ONE TREE HILL TO PAY INCREASED RATES

MEETING OF NEW BOARD Residents affected will not welcome the increase in rates proposed bv the One Tree Hill Road Board, which were referred to at the hrst meeting of the new board last night. No. 1 area is the only district not affected. The following are the new rates with last year’s figures in parentheses: No. 1, first drainage area, 3s lid (3s 2Jd); No. 2, eastern drainage area, 3s 9id (3s 2sd); No. 3. western drainage area, 3s 9£d (3s 2£d); No. 4, Penrose, 2s 8d (2s 7£d). These rates do not include a charge of 15s for refuse removal and £2 4s for night soil removal services obtain. The total amount from all rates will amount to £24,244, against £22,959 last year. The engineer’s estimate for road maintenance amounted to £8,250, the chairman, Mr. R. G. Clark, said. It is proposed to purchase a truck f<>r £ 300 to facilitate transport. To last year’s surplus of £I,BOO could be added another £2.560 income from licences, Government subsidy, etc. This would require a general rate of Is 3d in Ithe £ 1 to meet the total general account expenditure of £12,965. The chairman mentioned that considerable credit was due to the late board for its careful handling of the finances to produce such a satisfactory result. The present charges for water will continue and last year’s surplus of £1,503 will be utilised to replace small pipes with standard mains in a number of streets. It was decided that the watermeter rent of 8s a year would not be charged after this month. TRANSPORT BOARD QUESTION Mr. W. J. Jordan, M.P., told the board that he had approached the Prime Minister in April with a view to persuading the Government to establish a metropolitan transport board in &b. 2 Licensing District; the idea being that the board would take over all the tramway and bus undertakings of the city. Mr. Coates had replied to the effect that the matter would require special legislaion to carry it into effect. He did not consider this was warranted as the question was purely a local Mr. Jordan proposes to bring the matter up again next session.