TAMAKI AND CITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 76, 21 June 1927, Page 14

TAMAKI AND CITY

ADVANTAGES OF JOINING ADDRESSES TO RATEPAYERS TO-MORROW a poll will be taken on the proposal to join the Tamaki Road Board District to the City of Auckland. Last evening meetings were held at St. Heliers and at Kohimarama, when speakers advocated amalgamation. In explaining the advantages of amalgamation, Mr. M. J. Coyle, who addressed both meetings, said that Point Chevalier would have become a slum, but it was now a modern suburb. Mr. Holdsworth, also showing the advantages of amalgamation, said that the Auckland City Council had assets conservatively placed at £7,319,493, and was in a strong financial position. At St. Heliers Mr. J. W. Carr presided over a meeting of 150, which was addressed by Mr. Coyle and Mr. W. J. Holdsworth. Mr. Coyle and Mr. T. Bloodworth addressed the meeting at Kohimarama. Mr. Coyle said that the district now had one of the most efficiently equipped brigades in the Dominion. “Knowing the city’s financial position, can you Honestly advise Tamaki to join?” Mr. Coyle was asked. He replied that Tamaki and not the city stood to benefit. FINANCIAL ISSUES Mr. Holdsworth dealt with the financial aspect. The city loan proposals involved £1,442,814, but £500,000 was for tramway extensions and did not affect the rates, as the tramway system had always to pay its own way. Similarly, £472,000 was to be expended in connection with the waterworks The rates would not be affected. Mr. Holdsworth remarked that the Auckland City Council was as sound as the Bank of England. During the coal strike in England a loan was oversubscribed in a few hours He urged the residents to join the city and enjoy the benefits now being enjoyed by Point Chevalier, Grey Lynn, Remuera and Epsom. ON SOUNDER LINES Mr. Bloodworth said that amalgamation would place local body government on sounder lines than it was at present. With their limited resources the smaller authorities were unable to supply the essential services. Mr. Bloodworth remarked that the Auckland Power Board had spent £40,000 in reticulating the district, sufficient adequately to supply the district. The average rate a unit paid to the old power controlling authority in Tamaki was 7d. The average rate paid to the Auckland Power Board was 2Jd. That was an example of what could be done with other services. Transportation would also become cheaper if amalgamation were brought about.