Councillor Fights Increase in Rates

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 720, 20 July 1929, Page 6

Councillor Fights Increase in Rates

WAITAK—E_R_E ROAD RIDING MUST PAY

Spirited debate between member and chairman marked a meeting of the Waitemata County Council yesterday, when Mr. R. Glasgow took exception to an increase of one farthing in the pound on a special rate in the

Waitakere County. Proposals for a loan of £IO,OOO, which would have carried a liberal subsidy from the Main Highways Board toward the total cost of nearly £50,000 to provide for concreting seven and a-halt‘ miles of main highway from Henderson onward in the Waitakere Riding, were rejected by the ratepayers some time ago. The Main Highways Board had already done a. large amount of deviation and other work, which would not be a charge against the county or riding, reported the engineer, Mr. A. Murray. He estimated that the extra farthing making a. special rate of 1.1.6. in the 32 would be sufficient to raise the £IO,OOO, the money thus being

raised. oil: 6f revenue and not as a loan.

Strong exception to the increase in the rate was taken by Mr. Glasgow, who objected to the council, acting for the county as a whole, deciding what his riding was to spend. As to the state of the road, the metal supplied would be adequate for immediate repairs.

Objection to Mr. Glasgow’s attitude was taken by the chairman, Mr. L. E. Kerr-Taylor, who contended that with a good read through to the North they would be prosperous, while under present conditions they were practically bogged. There had been trouble on the road during the past three weeks, and it was better to go in for a decent road. It was ridiculous to think that one could go up there at the present time and not get bogged. The terms accepted with the Main Highways Board were good, said the chairman, being better than £3 for £l, and it would be in the interests of the ratepayers to take advantage of the opportunity offered them. Since the loan had been rejected, he said, he had met many ratepayers in the Waitakere Riding who had said they were sorry they had rejected the proposals. “You still contend that you can compel me to expend that £IO,OOO whether I like it or not. I am quite confident that you cannot,” said Mr. Glasgow. “If that money were used entirely for the benefit of the ratepayers in the Waitakere Riding, you could compel me, but as it will not be I contend that the whole county should pay. You have no right, in view of the financial position of the riding, to force me to put up my rates.”

Although he did not offer it as a compromise, Mr. Glasgow said he would be Willing to put a. fresh proposal to the ratepayers later on. “If you want to fight, I am prepared to fight to a. finish,” he said. “You came here without a. policy and ybu have since defied the council,” said the chairman. “You cannot run this council—no member can run a council. You are going to pay and not the other ridings.” Mr. G. O’Halloran said that in spite of Mr. Glasgow’s complaints the rates in his riding were the same as those in the Takapuna Riding. Mr.‘ W. H. Potter: If Mr. Glasgow would give his assurance that in a. short time he would bring forward something we would be prepared to let him off the farthing increase. Mr. O'Halloran: It is only a farth—ing. The money ordinarily provided would be for repair work and not reconstruction, said the engineer. It would be more preferabel to spend the same amount annually, about £BOO, on sinking fund and interest than on repairs. It would save the ratepayers’ money. 4

Speaking of a recent case in the Te Aroha district where members of a council oifered to assist the member for another riding with money for forming a, road, M 1". Glasgow said that that had been a gentlemanly action. “I want to show the councillors up -——to Show the class of men I have to sit with,” he said.

Appealing for order, the chairman said: “You seem to think we are not reasonable. You condemn everything." “That is wrong,” said Mr. Glasgow, and alleged that when he was elected his riding had a considerable debit balance. » Mr. O’Halloran asked if a fresh loan proposal could not be taken, but. the engineer said that at present he did not think there would be any hope of carrying it.

Mr. H. Day said he thought another loan proposal would be carried. “If Mr. Glasgow is prepared to go for another loan we are prepared to reduce his rates for next year,” said the chairman. Mr. Glasgow: You cannot raise money without the ratepayers’ con—sent.

Mr. O’Halloran: They have done that at Takapuna. Mr. Glasgow: That was because they did not murmur. I will fight.

Mr. A. Bishop thought; that 7 Mr. Glasgow had taken up the wrong attitude.

hi'i‘hre motion concerning the striking of the rates was carried, Mr. Glasgow being the only dissentient.