GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 146, 29 September 1910, Page 8

GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH

'PROPOSAL NEGATIVED AT FITZROY. A LIVELY MEETING. The Mayor of New Plymouth had no reason to be displeased with the (number of Fitzroy people wlfo accepted liis invitation to meet liini at the Tosvn Hall and hear his views on the suggested amalgamation oi the Fitzroy town district with the borough of New Plymouth, in furtherance of the "Greater New Plymouth" scheme. The attendance included a number of ladies. The chairman of the Fitzroy Town Board, Mr. L. Steele, was voted to the chair. In introducing the matter, Mr. Tiscli referred first to the proposal to instal an electric tram service ill New Plymouth. This question, he said, was very important to both Fitzroy and. New Plymouth. The Citizens' Committee and the burgesses of Ne\V Plymouth had decided in favor of municipal control. He referred to the report of Mr. F. Black, of Wellington, upon the tramway proposal. rlie sclKine proposed a line from Fitzroy to Moturoa, at an approximate cost of £40,000. He approved of the route suggested, and wanted to sec the scheme carried out. He had every confidence in recommending the scheme to the ratepayers for it was his experience, both here r.nd in the Old Land, that the institut . ,i of a tram system sent a place aheau t>y leaps and bounds. There was nn more desirable place than New Plymouth to live in, but to attract residents we must give them every'modern facility and convenience. The expert estimated a slight deficiency on the first year's working, tout there were good assets against that. As to the probability of the project being undertaken, there was a feeling in New Plymouth that the trams were not. likely to be authorised unless Fitzroy and other suburbs were prepared to bear •their share of the responsibility. Why, the borough ratepayers asked, should they borrow £40,000 on top of tihe present loans of over £IOO,OOO, to institute a scheme that would Ibe principally for the benefit of the outside people—enhancing their property by fully .30 per cent.? It had been said that Fitzroy people were quite willing to take their share of the burden. Well, the simplest way of doing it was by joining the borough.

COMPARISON OF RATING. Mr. Tisch produced a, copy of the Fitzroy rate-roli, showing the rates payable by Fitzroy people under the present system, as compared with what they would pay if they joined the borough. In many cases the saving was 50 per cent, in favor of the borough, and there was a saving in every instance. At Mr. Griffiths' request he gave the figures affecting several ratepayers in the room, as follows:—Fitzroy rate, £27 17s, iborough £l4; £7 12s aaid £3 18s; £.13 Is 7d and £6 15s; and many others. Another advantage was in regard to the

WATER RATE.

The water rate outside the borough was Is 4d in the £ on the annual value. In the borough the rate was sixpence. A Fitzroy property-owner now paying £4 a year water rate would pay £1 10s, and in every case thero was this same saving of GO per cent. Fitzroy ratepayers would not be liable for payment of the special rates now payable by the borough ratepayers in respect of loans. He quoted the opinion of Mr. Martin, counsel to the Municipal Association, in support of his statement, and read a letter from Messrs. Govett and Quilliam, borough solicitors, endorsing that opinion. These special rates would fall due in. 1922, so that certainly Fitzroy people, if they joined the borough, would be exempt from those rates, for twelve years at any rate. Another advantage accruing- to the Fitzroy people would be representation on the Borough Council. The Fitzroy town district would be made a distinct ward. At present any Fitzroy resident wanting the water laid on to ihis property had to lay the pipes at his own expense. If he joined the borough he would connect without that expense. The same remark applied to electric j light. There was another thing, the free use of the borough water for fire purposes. Fitzroy got free water at present, but this was hardly likely to continue. A strong argument was that the Greater New (Plymouth, scheme would facilitate the installation of trams, whilst it had also to be remembered that any district joining the borough would have the use of the Council's crushing pia,nt, etc., and would 6mre an the larger revenue >to be shortly derived from the Council's leasehold ■ properties in Stratford district. Tjhe cost of administration of the borough would not need to ibe increased. \Vhat New Plymouth had to, gam pnncipally was an added status from the added population, and the raising of its rank amongst the 'boroughs of the Dominion was bound to have a beneficial effect.

It might be urged that New Plymouth was overloaded with loans. (A voice: Correct.) He would point out however, tJfrat there 'had been no in,°J ra^ es in the borough since 1901, although several loans had been 1 aised in that period. The borough was m a good financial position, despite wliat. critics had to sav.' He enumerated new works,, approximating in CO st £4OOO, which had been carried out in the past two years out of ordinary revenue, in addition to the general maintenance of roads, etc. And still their debit balance at the end of the financial year had been triHins;, whilst in the year before there had been a credit balance. Had the Borough Council been content to carry on as in the past, without expending money on all this extra concrete channelling, new metalling, the construction of a by-pass at the reservoir, and so on, there would I have been much more money for thej streets,_ and probably .tetter streets.. But, still, the streets were in very good order. The electric light 1 loan had not cost the ratepayers a penny, and he looked forward to an early reduction in the rates charged to the'consumers inj the borough. The drainage loan paid

for itself. In all. £102.00(1 out of the l.il,0i!0 borrowed was interest e.irni !!•;,' ami repr.iiluciive. The Mayor ciearly explained that persons not using die water supply would I'.ot be charged at all for u, lis us contradicting an impression sought to be created that liaJfrates would be charged in such cases. Concluding, His Worship stated if the Fitzroy people decided to jyin the borough they would need to have a requisition signed by 25 per cent, of the ratepayers. iiy joining they would share in aI j the municipal facilities without paying the .-.j.v'mi r..Us ehe usl ui them; and tttev would facilitate the introduction of the trains, w-iiicli were bound to do so much for both the borough and the suburbs. -Mr. I'isch had hardly resumed his seat when Mr. C. F. Foote, clerk to the i'itzroy J own Board, tabled a motion to the ellect that "As the Fitzroy district has been so well managed in the past, it would be imprudent to join the iioroiigh, and that we remain as we are." Mr. Foote contended that (to join New Plymouth would be like going ii>to partnership with a, man who had a bad stock, for New Plymouth, had bad stock i.n its roads, .bridges aed footpaths. A ogeltown and St. Aubyn people had declined to join the borough, b.a perhaps Mr. Tiscli thought, he had "a softer thing on at Fitzroy." There had, he said., been no increase in rates in Fitzroy since 1883. Mr. UrifTiths: Is it possible td make them higher. Mr.. Foote: No. (Laughter.) We have gone as for as we can go. but Mr. .1 iscli hasn't said how far they can go. Ili'sainiug uis speech, Mr. Foote said it had been a good move when Fitzroy left, county control, for now their rates were spent in Ihcir own district. Fitzroy had paid hospital rate, fire brigade subsidy, purchase of old railway line, repairs at Waiwnkaiho bridge, all out of ordinary revenue; and there were liabilities for Mangorei road improvement, share of purchase of land for widening the ab.ittoil' read, and other things to be inicit in the same way. The' worst street 'in the town district was a borough street,, from the two stores to the abattoirs. (Hear, hear.) The other streets were in excellent order. He quoted Councillors Dockrill, Bellringer Wr«.» i. in;! th ihih-Xeuv, m criticism of the borough finances. He ridiculed the idea that the Borough Council would give Fitzroy people a water supply 'for payment of a rate of 6d in the £, whilst the borouu'li paid G! and a lod special rate as well, and characterised the Council as a set of "Shylocks" for exacting the present charge. According to report, the Borough Council haa cribbed credits of one department and applied -them to another. If Fitzroy Ward had a credit balance, what was to prevent the West Ward from annexing it if they happened to want the moneT) The Mayor explained the reference to the water charges that, by the' law oi the land, the people joining the borough now could not be charged the special late already made. He also pointed out that he was not advocating the ajmalsamation, but only explaining the effect it would have if effected. I nu.. _i 4_.. ...

The chairman asked what tWmld be' 1922 P0Siti0 " ° f the FiUr ° 7 P eo P le ia | time Ce: buried by that'

The Mayor could not coimmit himself' opinion on a matter so remote. 1 The chairman said there was no ques-J toon that Fitzroy would be made liable for interest on those loans in 1922. A Voice: Then we'll stop out. . T *ke chairman not see why the New Plymouth Borough Council could' not prosecute the tram scheme on its own account. The trams would pay, and the suburbs would make them pay, for the Fitzroy and St. Aubyn people would pay twenty times as much in fares as the borough residents. | Mr. Tisdh said the feeling in New Plymouth seemed to be that the people would not saddle themselves with a loan! of £ 40,000 unless the suburbs would share in the responsibility. I The Chairman: We will taJce our' share of the losses provided we get our I Share of the profits. (Hear, hear.) Mr.! Steele contended that the borough roads' could mot be compared with Fitzroy's. I The only road in the town district which was under the control of the Borough' Council was the Gemow road, and it was a disgrace. People wouldn't let tilieir hens run on it lest they scratch the mietal off it. (Laughter.) I Mr. Old wanted to know "if we get' Bon Tippira chucked in with this deal"' (Loud laughter.) i Mr. Griffiths referred to the proposed' Fitzroy loan for street improvements' and for the town hall, and asked if that loan could be raised in the event! : of Fitzroy joining New Plymouth I The Mayor answered that the ward j could raise a loan for expenditure with-j im its own boundaries. M-r. Jackson suggested that the Bor- 1 ough Council might raise its general rate to 5s in the £, lower the .special rate (for -which Fitzroy would not be liable), and get at Fitzroy in tlhat way. Hie Mayor: I am not accustomed to

ime Mayor: 1 am not accustomed to tricks. (Applause.) I don't practise them. Mr. F. T. Bell ringer pointed out that the limit was 2s on the annual value. I

Mr. E. Griffiths said the ratepayers should be grateful to Mir. TUch for plac-' iog the matter before theim. He had dealt with the matter fairly. It had been said the other day that Mr. Tisch was the best Mayor New Plymouth had ever had, and She personally hoped he would be Mayor for many years to come. Mr. Griffiths went on to congratulate the old Henui Road Board and the Fitzroy Town Board on the work! done in Fitzroy, but said there was no| cloulrt they were fully paying for it.' He saw no reason why the roaids here should not be kept in as good order if, in the 'borough as now. The roads in the borough in a great many cases were excellent. If the rates were doubled, at tliey had been here, they would be able to asphalt them. (A voice, sarcastically •' Yes, Devon street, and laughter.) One point he wanted to make clear was that of the £.131,000 loans in tlhe borough, over £IOO,OOO was earning a higher rate of interest than was changed for the money, so the boirough was merely "going guarantee" for thel money; and the earnings of tlhe abattoirs and other institutions were paying.

the interest. Loans spent on streets .iinl lni.ln's were not interest-bearing and for these u special rate iuiil to iS levied. It was quite possible tint the Fitzroy W'anl wou.'d be made liable foi payment of interest on loan conversions after 1022, but the only non-pro-ductive loans now in the borough were £30,000. If the Fitzroy loan of £soofl were raised they would saddle New Plymouth with that in the amalgamation. The valuation of the borough waa over ten times us great as that of Fitzroy. whilst it vi'.s proposed to saddle them with iar mora than a tenth and proper share of 11011-producing loans. He . emphasised the fact that "trama made the suburbs." He thought Fitzroy should amalgamate with the borough, to facilitate the tramways scheme. He read a letter from Mr, H, Derr.psey in support of the Greater New (Plymouth scheme, and pointing out that Fitzroy people were mostly interested in the success of New Plymouth, from the fact that they had their' businesses there. Continuing, Mr. Griffiths said that this seemed to be a time when- all should pull together for the general good, and he hoped they would do so, v.'inn ;i !■ '! v .u'w '1 :r ' ,'ii. -i cilitate the tramway sell . me. He moved an amendment that a memorial be signed to give effect to the proposal. •Mr. .Stanley Smith, in se-.omling, urged that the subject should be given very careful consideration. The enlargement of New Plymouth by the absorption of the suburbs would be of very grflit benefit to the whole of the district. .Mr. F. C. Bellringer regretted the unfortunate start of the discussion, and pointed out that it was iproposod to raise Fitzroy on the plane of municipal life. The benefits were so many that lie urged mature consideration. He pointed out that over 50 per cent, of Fitzroy people depended on New Plymouth for a livelihood, ami Mr. Foote himself had worked there ever since ho was a boy. He asked for the people/a assistance iu making New Plymouth what it ought to be, and 'pointed out that as business men they should not mistrust one another. Tile Fitzroy Wanl would be able to supply some good councillors, for the Town Board had members superior to some of the New Plymouth Borough Councillors. Mr. Griffiths pointed out that unless Fitzrov people joined the borough there was, he regretted to say, very little chance of the trams coming. With Fitzroy in the borough there would be a block vote of 500 in favor of "the trams. Mr. 0. Johnson considered it unnecessary to take a vote that night. He had voire with' a view of gaining information, oai which to ponder before arriving at a decision. Fe favored setting up a committee to consider the matter. ■Mr. Foote: If we've got any brains about us, and we expect a schoolmaster tq have some, we will go on with the business to-night. (He subsequently withdrew the 'personal reference.) " _ . It was explained that the requisition had to be signed by 25 per cent, of the electors, not of the ratepayers, as previously announced., In a lengthy passage of words, Mr. Foote became excited and, waving his cap, declined to be "made the target" for questions from the back of the hall.

Replying, Mr. Foote said that the ac-

, complishment of the Greater New Plymouth scheme would not make New Plymouth any greater, for it would not , bring industries. Oil and harbor development would make the place. "What the hang do we care about how New Plymouth'stands outside?" he asked. Those who had the interests of Fitzroy at heart 1 would vote for the proposition and send Fitzroy ahead on its own account, without tihe aid of New Plymouth. Mr. Juhby interjected tihat people' might vote the other way and be just as anxious for Fitzroy's progress as Mr. I Foote was. The amendment was lost by 40 to 24, as was a subsequent amendment by (Messrs. Wood and Kiibby, that petitions for and against the scheme be circulated I for signature. The voting on this amendment was 26-all. The chairman signalled to someone in the hall to vote with the "noes," and the scrutineer (Mr. L. A. Nolan,) remonstrated with him, declaring his action to be "moat unsportsmanlike. The scrutineer 'bod occasion during tha voting to call the attention of the chairman tlhat some people toad both hands in the air, and that boys were voting. An amendment moved bv Mr. Kibhy that a petition in favor of joining Greater New Plymouth be circulated was drowned in uproar, and a remark, "Drop the duck, and let's get out."' The motion was carried by 45 to 16,< Mr. Kibby protesting that some people voting for it were neither old enough nor otherwise qualified to vote. The chairman'said the exception should have been taken earlier. Votes of thanks to the Mayor of New Plymouth and to the chairman terminated the proceedings.