TAUPO'S PETITION FOR BOROUGH STATUS

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 64, 8 April 1953, Page 5

TAUPO'S PETITION FOR BOROUGH STATUS

HEARING IN MAY The Local Government Commission, headed by Judge Areher, is to sit in Taupo 011 May 25th. for the purpose of hearing the petition of the Town Board to have the Town District raised to the status of a borough. The Board's petition was forwarded to the Governr- General in September of 1951, following the census. taken in July of that y&ar, which had shown that the population of the Town District was sufficient to comply with the requirements for borough status. The population aspect alone, however, is not the sole deciding factor. The Commission examines the position of the petitioning authority closely, and asks for statistical and historical data of many kinds to establish the economic and population stability of the town. When a petition is granted the Local Government Commission fixes the initial number of members to com prise the Borough Council, the minimum number being seven. The Commission also fixes the date for the first election of a mayor and of counl cillors. A num;be.r of towns have in the past eighteen months or so been granted borough status, including Havelock North, Howick; Mt. Roskill, Mt. Wellington and Glen Eden. The King Country town of Otorohanga, however, has had two petitions for borough status refused by the Commission.