Taupo To Be a Borough

Taupo Times, Volume 11, Issue 76, 1 July 1953, Page 5

Taupo To Be a Borough

_ RESULT OF R ECENT INQUIRY Commission Believes Rapid Development Will Continue. The Local Government Commission, under date June 22nd, 1953, has promulgated a provisional scheme providing that the Town District of Taupo shall be constituted a borough. This action taken under the powers conferred by the Local Government Commission Act 1946, is the result of an inquiry held by the Commission at Taupo on May 25th last, following a petition for borough status addressed to the Governor-General by the Taupo Town Board on September 3rd, 195L

Date 1 o Be Decided Under the empoweFing Act mentioned, written objections may be lodged not later than July 27, 1953. Should- no objections be lodged the Commission will approve of the Provisional S'cheme as a Final Scheme. The Commission states in its Report that they have refrained from fixing a date for the taking effect of the (pi*oposed scheme, and that they expect that a suitable date will be determined by the Taupo Town Board with the concurrence of the Department of Internal Affairs. *While we do not propose to traverse all the factors influencing us in reaching an opinion," states the Commission's Report, "we are satisfied that the Taupo Town District is now experiencing very rapid development and that there is everv indication that this will continue." Findings of Commission The Report summarises the findings' of the Commission by stating that the Taupo Town District operated in isolation from other local autliorities being surxounded by the nonoperative County of Taupo, ancl that the Commission was satished that rapid development was taking place. They therefore considered that the local authority should have available to it all legislation which might assist in the administration of the township as a progressive urban unit, and found therefore, that the Town District should be constituted a Borough. In dealing writh general c-onsidera-tions leading up to the decision, the Commission states that Taupo had always presented a problem by reason of being in effect the centre of an area, largely unproductive, in which the Counties Act had not been in force. The Legislature had recognised this problem, for Taupo township had been constituted a Road District by special legislation (The Waikato and King Country Counties Act, 1921, Sec. 16). This followed the r'eport of a special commission set up to consider problem s relating to local government in the area. On April 1st 1946 the Road District had been constituted a Town District, again by special legislation (Local Legislation Act 1945). Growth Of Taupo Continuing, the Report states that until 1945 the gr'owth of Taupo appeared to have been steady if unspectacular. In view of the fact that some censuses had been taken during the fishing season, when there had been an influx of fLshermen, and some in the closed season, it was difficult to assess a true rate of gr'owth for Taupo. It would seem, however, that since World War ii there had been considerable growth, for population had increased from 723, as at the 1945 census, to an estimated 1470 on April 1st, 1952. As the result of the Comniissioms own observations, and from various factors brought to their attention, they considered that even this latter figure had now been well exeeeded. N e w Developments ReferTing further to Taupo's position as the centre of an area of large size and low population and prcductive capaeity, the Report mentions more recent developments. It is apparent from their1 inspection of the area, and from the factual submissions of the Town Clerk as presented at the Inquiry, that Taupo was now experiencing real and solid gfowth. Extensive land development schemes by the Departments of Lands and Survey, and of Maori Af-

fairs, 'were either under way or planned, and large areas of marginal and previously unproductive lands were being* rapidly brought into production. Major Holiday Centre Settlement associated with major State Hydro schemes in the surrounding County were being established. The impr'ovement of the motor transport and road communications had made Lake Taupo more accessible. It was beeoming increasingly popular for holiday cottage purposes and it was now being freely forecast that the Taupo area would become a major holiday centre and playground for the North Island. The Report concludes by stating thatr the Taupo Town Board was endeavouring to provide the amenities expected in an urban unit. It was now oper'ating its own hydro-electric supply scheme and reticulation was being rapidly extended. Plans for a water supply scheme had been prepared. A feature pleasing to the Local Government Commission was that the Town Board had in preparation a town planning scheme for the district. Borough Status Advantages \ As the findmgs or the Commission mention, there are a number of advantages gained by a local body when it attains borough status. It may establish a r'eserve fund, a fact of vaiue when schemes such. as electric supply have been undertaken. It can also establish a depreciation fund; it may delegate powers to committees which may act on those powers without the necessity of actions being confirmed by the council; general and other rates rnay be consolidated; it may establish renewal ot replacement funds for the repair or renewal of any property other than that of a trading undevtaking; it may transfer any cash surplus from separate accounts to the general account; and it may petition for the extension of its boundaries.