GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 52, 23 August 1911, Page 4

GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH.

DISCUSSED AT FRANKLEY ROAD. At Frankley road last night a meeting was held to discuss the question of merging into the New Plymouth Borough. Mr, A. C. Downes. one of the convenors otf the meeting, was voted to the chair. He stated that he and Mr. Newell had a tacit understanding with the late Mayor that as soon as Fitzroy had joined the borough, they would call a public meeting at Frankley road to discuss the matter. He hoped that those, out of the proposed merging area would abstain from voting on the question. The proposed boundary was the road at the back of the school. He pointed out the advantages to be gained by joining the .borough. Regarding electric light and water supply, as long as they remained outside the borough they had no chance of getting these. They would have equally as good roads under the borough as under the county, and as regarded representation, they would have the advantage that ' all the borough councillors would be available at any time, whereas the county members were scattered over a large area. Moreover, the status of the district would he raised if it was a portion of the borough. In order to bring the nhitter to a head he asked that the meeting appoint a committee to further the scheme. He then explained the necessary procedure to be adopted. In regard to the important question of rates, he pointed out that they would still be liable for the county special rates, hut would not. be liable for the borough special loans. He gave three illustrations, showing that by coming into the borough they would save in rates an amount equal to the county hospital rate. He pointed out, however, that there had not been a valuation for nine years, and that when a re-valuation occurred rates would be hound to go up whether they were in the borough or not. Mr. Billing thought that it would be quite sufficient to take in the thickly populated portions and not the farms. Mr. Gibson wanted ,to know what guarantee they had that they would get the electric light and water if they did merge into the borough. Mr. Downed stated that the committee would have to go into that matter. Ho also pointed out that there were very few (by-laws that would need to be. amended to suit the district. Mr. Lister said they would all then be liable to borough inspection. _ Mr. Downes said that now they were liable to inspection by county or hospital inspectors. No sane, reasonable man had objection to inspectors. Inspectors were made for people who would not look after themselves. On the motion of Mr. E. S. Allen, it was resolved that Mr. Downes confer with the Mayor and town clerk and ask them to attend a meeting at an early date to supply necessary facts and figures.