Faith in Auckland

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 944, 10 April 1930, Page 10

Faith in Auckland

COUNCILLOR SEES PROGRESS FAITH in the economic position of Auckland, judged from its remarkable progress since 1905, and comparing its ratio of increase in population with that of New Zealand, was expressed by Mr. G. W. Hutchison, a member of the City Council, addressing the Creditmen’s Club yesterday afternoon. Mr. Hutchison’s speech, “Auckland of Today,” followed the Hon. E. W. Alison’s reminiscences of Auckland, given to the club recently.

Mr. Hutchison declared comparative figures read to his audience to be a sufficient answer to those who regarded the advancement of New Zealand, and especially of its greatest City, to be at an end. Auckland’s growth had been remarkable and reasonably constant. He failed to see any justification for a pessimistic attitude: Auckland and New Zealand were, perhaps, halted, but the progress would undoubtedly resume. Important ratios of population increases were given by Mr. Hutchison. From 1905 to 1911, Auckland’s population had advanced 52 per cent.; up to 1915, the advance was 15 per cent.; to 1925, 47 per cent.; and, to 1929, 21 per cent. How Auckland had outstripped New Zealand in the ratios was evident from the Dominion increases in these periods. They were only 16.5 per cent., 9 per cent., 18 per cent., and 8 per cent. It was estimated that New Zealand’s population would rise from nearly 1,500,000 in 1930 to 2,500,000 in 1950, and 4,500,000 in 1980, employing the conservative estimate of a 10 per cent, increase in a quinquennium. Eliminating Auckland’s much higher ratio and using the Dominion ratio, Auckland would have a population of not less than 650,000 in 1980. Mr. Hutchison thought it probable that the population would then exfceed 1,000,000. REMARKABLE INCREASE The rate of progress was undeniably remarkable as Auckland was only 90 years old. In presenting his figures. Mr. Hutchison explained that they related, in the main, to the City proper. Since 1925, such areas as Parnell, Grey Lynn, Point Chevalier, Remuera, Avondale and Tamaki had come into the City; the area had correspondingly risen fr0m.2,160 acres in 1905 to 18,679 acres last year. The miles of streets had increased from 62 to 292. Graphs revealing the development were shown to the audience. The general rates collected were £20,049 in 1905, £28,006 in 1911, £55,297 in 1915, £151,754 in 1925, and £171,000 in 1929. The rating had advanced from 2s 7id to 3s lljd. Endowment rents were £3lB in 1905; last year, they were £17,782. Between now and 1933, a large number of leases

would fall back on the City and considerable benefit would be derived. Building fees gave an indication of building growth. They were only £332 In 1905 and stood at £3,399 last year. In the next year, reductions were to be expected, as Mr. Hutchison said the City was somewhat overbuilt. Advances in architecture were an excellent feature of recent building, he said. In 1905, the City’s assets were £778,000. They reached £1,729,000 in 1911, £6,126,000 in 1925, and £8,753,000 in 1929. Debentures received from the Power Board and the Transport Board were included in the figures, but no provision was allowed for the capital expenditure of £3,163,000 in streets and drainage. In 1905, the public debt was £592,000. It had grown to £1,172,000 in 1911. £2,000,000 in 1915, £5,500,000 in 1925, and just under £8,000,000 in 1929, including Power Board and Transport Board liabilities. SINKING FUND COMPARISON The City Sinking Fund Commissioners in the earlier days had not seen the necessity for paying loans when due, Mr. Hutchison had been informed. That position -was altered now by the operations of the Local Government Loans Board. The sinking fund of 1905 was £83,564; last year it was almost £1,150,000. The amount in 1925 was £900,000. A tabulation of striking population advances was presented by Mr. Hutchison, who said the population of the metropolitan area had grown from 67,000 in 1905 to £209,000 last year. For the years 1905, 1911, 1915, 1925 and 1929, the divisional figures were: —City: 34,000, 40,000, 65,000, 88,000 and *102,000; outer area, 33,000, 62,000. 52,000, 85,000 and 107,000. The business at the port of Auckland last year represented a 500 per cent, increase on the business in 1905. A satisfying phase of the municipal work of the present time was the increased attention to town-planning. The mistakes of other cities could be studied before it was too late. Auckland had enough water in its dams now to supply the anticipated population of 1980 with water for 33 days, without an inflow, too.