MT. ROSKILL INQUIRY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 648, 27 April 1929, Page 20

MT. ROSKILL INQUIRY

BOROUGH OR ROAD BOARD? EVIDENCE BEFORE COMMISSION After hearing evidence called yesterday by Mr. Meredith for the Road Board, the commission of inquiry to determine whether there should be a poll in Mount Roskill on the question of whether the district should be constituted a borough, adjourned until Wednesday. The commission is composed of Mr. E. C. Cutten, S.M., chairman, Mr. O. N. Campbell, commissioner of Crown lands, and Mr. C. W r . Chilcott, district valuer in Auckland. Mr. Meredith appeared for the Mount Roskill Road Board, and Mr. Finlay and Mr. Milne for the Roskill South Ratepayers’ Association. Three witnesses favouring formation of the borough were called by Mr. Meredith. That the system of rating on unimproved values had fallen heavily on small farmers was maintained by Mr. E. R. Allen, a former member of the road board. South Roskill had been fairly treated by the board, but a more elastic system was wanted. A share in the benefit of motor-spirit taxation and the to rural areas that would be affordeu Dy a differential system of rating were advantages of making Mount Roskill a borough, according to Mr. A. St. C. Belcher, also a member of the board. Witness suggested that the interests of the two sections could be served under borough control by having the district divided into two wards. “I am still of the opinion,” he said, “that, although the interests of the two areas are different, the best means of serving them is by means of ward government under a municipal authority, so that electors of each particular area should choose their own representatives. Athough each -ward cannot alter its system of rating, they can strike different rates in each ward.” Mr. G. E. Tansley, for 12 years a member of the board, agreed with the suggestions of the previous witness. “The district is growing so fast and must grow, that we need further machinery,” he declared. He believed the amalgamation of the whole district with the city would be the best course to follow. Mr. Meredith indicated that he did not propose to call any further witnesses.