GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 161, 6 January 1912, Page 4

GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH.

MERGING OF DISTRICTS.' ' - About thirty persons attended the* commission of enquiry, which was held' at the Land Board's office yesterday,; with reference to the municipal control' of areas referred to in the petitions which had been sent in. The commission consisted of Messrs. W. Armstrong' (Commissioner of Crown Lands) and Mr. Craig (District Valuer of Wanganui). The proposal was to amalgamate the districts of W*stown;' Frankley toad, and Vogeltown with the borough of New Plymouth. Mr. Armstrong said they were: giving him a big order, as the area to be included was twice the size of New Plymouth borough, and they would have to be very careful! • An was no doubt that the rates wouldibe legs in' the country than at present.. He could not see how these areas were going to get electric light, water supply, and" sewers without great 'expense to them. At Aromoho the people in the suburbshad been anxious to go into Wanganui borough, but subsequently a portion'had" been glad to get out.' He wished to getas much information as possible to avoid such a thing occurring here.

The Mayor (Mr. G. W. Browne) said that in order to give the commissionersan idea of the merging districts, it was necessary to drawn an imaginary line, and amongst the portion of land' were some which was unfit, and they might .be 1 excluded. The line would follow the Henui river, east of Avenue road, thenceby a line south of the junction of Brookland and Carrington. roads, to'the Frankley road school, thence via Elliot roa.d pa Cowling road, and along the west Iwundary of the Hurwbrtli riding to St. Aubyn town district. The question had been raised of supplying Frankleigh .Park with light and sewerage. The borough supply of electricity was being increased, and the question of drains would not need present attention. A number of people had "petitioned for the light. A tramway from Fitzroy to Moturoa was contemplated, and in theevent of these areas being taken in the suburbs would get the advantage of itIn reply to the Commissioner, the Mayor said he hoped the tramway scheme would be in hand iir two years. He could not say that the trams.would go all round the new district in that time, but he quite expected to see them in the. town within two or three years. When trams were started' in Wanganui it was soon found necessary to extend them to the suburbs. a The Commissioner thoughfcat might, be l ten years before suburban extensions could be made. The Mayor said that the oil fields and ironsand industries'would help .the borough in the future. If the present scheme failed it would foe three or four years before it could be'brought up again. The electric light scheme in the borough was showing a profit,,and-they were making;, extensions out of profits. They would not require a further loan for lighting, drainage, or water for ». long time. They had never struck a sewerage rate in the borough. The petitions, the Mayor said, had been signed' by people all over the ' - - •■ , The Commissioner said he understood' that sufficient signatures had; been obtained' to warrant them asking the consent of the Governor to ianction. the merging.

The Mayor replied that was so. Mr. Craig asked jf a tram loan were raised would it be all over the borough. The Mayor said it would. He said Wanganui paid £I2OO for generatingpower. Basing his opinion on Mr. Black's report, New Plymouth could dot better, as it was better situated. Mr. Carter said New Plymouth had one of the smallest .boroughs in the Dominion. Beferring to the nrogress it would make by being enlarged, lie saidthat since, the water was taken to Vos*elfown property value had doubled. "We must look to the greater ihw'M!ities of the place. If we sit down and do nothingwe will be a small people and: a small community."

Mr. Ambury said if the people in Aromoho were asked their opinion about going into Wanganui, he did not believe one would say tliat it had been a mistake. The fact of their connection had been good for both, and Wanganui- was going ahead by leaps and bounds. He believed in the borough haying control of the main roads, so that when a scheme was afloat, they would not have any difficulty with another body. Frankleigh Park, and Westown were being settled, and that was where the families would? go. • '

Mr. Billing snid he wanted his area left out, as it would be 20 years before his place was wanted for population. Mr. Haddrell said some people were opposed to coming into the borough because they were afraid of having ■< to comply with all, the-borough, regulations. That would not do for the outlying districts. He understood regulations would be made to fit circumstances. '

Mr. F. P. Corkill was of opinion that those corning into the new area would have a say in what they had to comply with. It would be absurd, for instance, to debar a man from keeping a pig in the country. There would have to be legislation according to conditions that prevailed.

Mr. Sole said if >people were going to have increased privileges they would not mind paying for them. The selfhm idea wanted to be abolished, and if New Plymouth helped the suburbs they would in turn give assistance. A couple of ratepayers said they were opposed to coming in, while a great many more favored the scheme. The Commissioner said he and Mr Craig were agreed as to Vogeltown and Westown merging, but as' tegard the other districts it was a matter for careful consideration. They would go over the districts again before giving, an opinion. He thanked those who bad come t9 give information, and wished them a Happy New Year. The Mayor said he was obliged to the Commissioner for coming, and for the courteous hearing they had »iven evervone. ° J Mr. Armstrong replying, said he was heart and soul in favor of anything for the good of Taranaki. The Commissioner intends to deal with the St. Aubyn merging petition at" the same time as the others. ,