BOUNDIN AHEAD.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 174, 22 January 1912, Page 6

BOUNDIN AHEAD.

SYDNEY'S WONDERFUL GROWTH. Sir Allen Taylor (Lord Mayor of Sydney) entered upon his new year of office on New Year's Day, and in the course of an interesting interview with a, Daily Telegraph reporter briefly reviewed the events- of the twelve months thrown behind. The growth of the city," said the Lord Mayor, "during the last ten' years has been phenomenal. The increase in the general rate as contrasted with ten years ago, the rating being on the sanie basis, has exceeded 33 per cent., notwithstanding that during the last seven years many hundreds of premises have been demolished in the resumed areas, the rates on which have been lost to the City Council, pending their reconstruction. And the result of this is now only beginning to bear fruit. It is reasonable i to anticipate that inside three years the present residues will all be : returning revenue to the city fund. "I estimate that 20 years hence our improved rate —worth now nearly a quarter of a million per annum—will be worth nearly half a million. This will serve to give some idea of the enormous future in prospect, consequent upon the development of the city. It means that there must be an enormous increase in values on existing properties. Apart from this, through the continuation of the remodelling policy in various parts of the city—and which has a direct effect in making other properties contiguous thereto more valuable—all city properties must have an enhanced value. Many of the owners of the properties adjoining those resumed will now realise that they will be forced to remodel, so that their buildings may compare favorably with new ones immediately adjacent to them. "Many slum areas yet remain. to be dealt with, and it is the duty of the Council to grapple, with them. 'Up to the present, with the assistance 6l the city land tax, which has proved invaluable in financing a large number of the schemes, as arranged by my predecessors with the Wade Government, we have been" enabled to meet our obligations with ease. But in any case, and at any cost, the slums remodelled had to be dealt with; and, fortunately, we were in the position of being able to do it without increasing the burden to the ratepayers. I contemplate that with the vast expansion that is taking place daily, with independent administration, the works already foreshadowed will be satisfactorily completed, and that there need be no anxiety as to the ultimate i resuks.

"The electric lighting service is one of the most wonderful of our assets. We are making rapid progress with the de-' velopment of this service. It is meeting with unstinted support, both for current and power, within the city, and a large proportion of the suburban districts contiguous thereto. At the present moment £1,000,000 is invested, which, after paying interest, sinking fund, and allowing for depreciation, at this early stage of its existence shows a safe margin of profit. The installation has only been an accomplished fact for seven years. In the first year 2,000,-000 units were generated, but at the close of this year nearly 5,000,000 will be the record, and it is reasonable to assume that inside the next five years we will be disposing of approximately no less than 25,000,000 units. When this stage is reached it is also reasonable to anticipate that if working conditions remain normal we will be in a position to give a substantial advantage on the general rate to the ratepayers. "Citizens will readily realise that we are faced with a. serious problem in dealing with the matter of city traffic," concluded the Lord Mayor. "'And more so in view of my forecast as to the growth of the city itself, to say nothing of the development of the country. Again, I have reason to believe that our anticipations in this direction will bo realised, so that it is obvious to the humblest individual that a grave necessity exists for grappling with this important matter in no uncertain maimer. Personally, it appears to me that the question of transport stands paramount among all questions engaging municipal and Govermental attention within the metropolitan area. Unless it is undertaken in a firm and determined manner forthwith, it will not only cause great public inconvenience and congestion, but might result in some great catastrophe. I am deeply interested in this matter, and I hope at an early date, after my return from a contemplated holiday, to make this a predominant feature of this year's administration. "I purpose convening meetings in different countries, and subsequently approaching the Government, pointing out to it the necessity for dealing with the matter in a comprehensive and well-thought-out scheme."