GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 114, 3 November 1911, Page 3

GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH.

MEETING AT WESTOWN. At the meeting of ratepayers of Wesuiv.n mi Wednesday evening, the Mayor (■Mr. G. W. Browne) thanked them for giving him the opportunity of putting the matter of amalgamation before them. Tie pointed out the boundaries that were proposed to he taken in, and impressed oil them the great advantages that they would derive from merging with the borough. They would have all the facilities at present possessed by the borough. The services of the borough engineer and the borough plant would be available in the expenditure of money on permanent works, such as roads, etc. They would also participate in the water supply, electric light and drainage, all of which were returning large profits. and as part owners they would participate in any surplus, lie also referred to the advantage they would derive from inert ased representation, for whereas now one member looked after the interests of :1 very large riding, if they merged ii:t<> {lie "borough they would be entitled to two representatives, and would no doubt see that they were live men. In merging, of course, they would also get universal suffrage, as everyone paying over £lO per annum rent would be entitled to a vote, whereas now only ratepayers had that privilege. They would not derive much direct advantage as regarded rates, but they would stTll gain a little, and in support of this he illustrated the effect on several local properties, showing that on a valuation of £the present %d county and 11-d hospital rate was £1 Lis 4d; under the borough it would be £1 12$ fid. [They must also remember that the county had power to rate up to 3d in the £, and there was no guarantee that the county rate would remain at %d. If it were increased the gain would, of course, be more marked. Then there was the advantage of the water supply. They had now to depend on tanks, and in a dry season these gave out. If they wanted the water supply outside the borough they had to pay the cost of laying the mains and also a rate of one shilling and fourpenee, on the annual I value. Tf they merged the mains would be laid at the cost of the whole borough, and the water would only cost them fid in the £ annual value. Street lighting would prove another advantage. He remarked that on his way up he had not seen one light and did* not know how they managed on dark nights. He said the by-laws question was looked on with awful dread, particularly as regarded keep fowls, pigs and cows. There was J no need for in this direction. The | Borough Council made the by-laws to ■suit the circumstances of different areas, { and they could be confined in their operations to those areas. He considered'that the advantages of water and electric light would cause such an influx of population to the district that it would soon be necessary to consider drainage. They need not'hesitate about loans for this, for water, electric light and drainage in New Plymouth were always self-supporting. Tie showed the inconvenience the district suffered at present through having no regular means of conveying passengers to town. This point should be strongly weighed, because if they merged the increased population would mean in the near future a cheap mode of passenger service, which must be either by a tram or 'bus service. New Plymouth, he said, was about to entertain the question of trams. Fitzroy was whole-hearted in the matter, and it only needed the southern end of New Plymouth and the trains would be a certainty. He was in hopes that the merging would be adjusted by .March 31. and then the tram question would be taken in hand. Once they were established branches must follow, because tiams would always build up suburban areas. He urged all ratepayers to sign the petition in favor of merging. ° ) The chairman (Mr. Sole) said that Mr. Browne had put the matter very clearly I and moderately, when he might liave used I more telling language. As regarded comparison with county rates, he stated that I they should be satisfied if the borough took them in at the same rates. They would get privileges which they expected to pay for. Water was a vital necessity, not only for household purposes but also for coping with any outbreak of fire. The area would, of course, be settled by comniisisoners. The "reatest possible area was nine square miles. In reply to a question from Mr. Knapman as to how the borough could keep up the roads, etc.. on a less rate than the county, Mr. Browne pointed out that, the facilities were better, as they had more plant, etc.. and could cart the metal cheaper. Mr. Browne also said that lie did not propose to color the question too highly, so as to drag them in under false pretences. Tic had purposely put it very moderately. Mr. Bigelow said that if they decided to merge, would it not be necessary to strike a loan over the area to obtain the facilities mentioned? Would not this mean higher rates?

The Mayor stated that a eomprebensivi- scheme would be set, up when the merging wa* eoi]i)ileted. and a loan would be raised over the whole borough. He pointed out, however, that the water supply was self-supporting, and any deficiency I here might be made up out of the consolidated funds.

Mr. Toll, asked if there were any guarantee that they would get the water? The Mayor replied that they would be a new ward, and if they did not put live men in to look after their own interests it was their own look-out. Tn Xew Plymouth borough they were not narrow, but spent, money wherever it was urgent!v needed.

Mr. I'ifrrlow asked. Would tin l water mains In' (iikcn on bv-roads as well as

main roads? ,\fr. I'rowne paid it would all depend on I In' number of conned ions. Ft would not lie jrood Ini-iness to spend C-100 or 'J.VMI for one or two connection'!. In reply to Mr. l'ot.t. the Mayor said that petitions for incr«inf» were now in circulation at Yojrcltown and Franklci»li Park.

J | Mr. Dow lies remarked that sufficient, H signature had been obtained on Franklcv y (road to obtain a poll over the whole

Mr. liisfelow moved that a committee be elected to act in conjunction with committees from Frank ley road and Yo"r|tow in preparing anil circulatinf.' a petition in favor of amalgamation with the lioronjrh of New Plymouth. Messrs .1. D. Sole. \V. and It. I'olter were elected a committee, with power to add. \ iiles of thanks to the Mayor and town clerk for attending terminated the meet ill!.'.