A GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 68, 16 April 1909, Page 3

A GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH

To tlio Editor. Sir,—ilu» letters which are appearing ill your columns anent the inscriptions on the monument oil .Uarsden llill are what an old settler said to lue to-day: Taranaki all over, pettv spite and jealousy being the chief ingredients of their hotchpotch contents. These hjisy-hodit's are very much hurt because they hi'iir certain names ot' the committee are to go on a slab, ll'm; and Ah! As one who also is a subscriber and has a right to speak, I ask whenever would we have seen a monument 071 .Marsland Hill if it had been left to -Messrs Patria and Co.? Echo answers, Never!—l am. etc., G.H. (who is also a subscriber).

To the, Editor.

Sir,—lt is not 'necessary to draw at- ■ tention to ilu- fact that New Plymouth i is one of the smallest boroughs' in the • Dominion, as that is a fact known to ■ most who have looked into the oues- , lion. There is no reason, however, that : v>'« should for ever remain so, and I think the present the most opportune time for the borough to bring forward proposals showing the advantage or otherwise to be derived from the suburbs immediately outside the town becoming part of a Greater New Plymouth scheme. We have already had experience of Fitzroy forming itself into a town district, and now we hear that a portion of the Barrett road district is following suit. The residents in this locality are not to be blamed for seeking to get redress by way of rates if it can ■be secured by this method, but from the experience of Fitzroy we find that the I'/A rate is struck just the same as before. The borough could take examples from the experience of both of these districts and show clearly -what advantage is gained by going in for a Greater New Plymouth scheme, and this once done and the whole clearly outlined, I am quite satisfied that the borough could offer-such inducements that these places and others 'would fall into line and join the borough. Every town district that is formed is putting back the clock as far as the Greater New Plymouth scheme is concerned. It should be kept steadily in view that the time is not far distant when an electric tramway system will be instituted, and this j would be much simplified in making New Plymouth the place it deserves to be. Along with this at no distant date might come the representation of the town of New Plymouth in Parliament, thus giving distinct town and country members; but the purpose of this letter is to emphasise the necessity of promoting a Greater New Plymouth, and, if possible, to prevent a number of small suburbs seriously delaying a Greater New Plymouth scheme.—l am, etc., KATEPAYER.