GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 223, 19 March 1912, Page 4

GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH.

The ratepayers of Vogeltown, Frankleigh Park and Westown will to-day have the opportunity of deciding whether they shall join tho borough or remain as they are, a part of the County Council, It is not so long ago that they abolished the road boards and formed a separate riding of the County Council. The change has in every way proved advantageous to ratepayers, but when it was effected it was generally recognised that it wouldi only be a matter of a few years when amalgamation with the borough jvould become imperative. The time for severance has now .been reached, and it can be accomplished without inflicting any injustice or hardship upon the rural lands higher up. It should be quite unnecessary to urge ratepayers in the suburban areas to register their votes in favor of amalgamation because most of them have gone into the matter sufficiently for themselves to see that they have everything to gain and nothing at all. : to lose by joining the borough. At any rate, we have not heard of a single valid argument against the step. Fitzroy was in & better position iu several respects than Vogeltown, Frankleigh Park or Wes l town, but even it was quick and businesslike enough to embrace the chance to join forces with the borough. One unprogressive individual lias been making it his business lately to try and dissuade ratepayers of the Vogeltown district from supporting the proposal, his trump card being that rates will be higher under the borough regime than at present. But a little investigation and comparison will show his statement to be untenable. We have looked up the books of the County Council and taken at random from them particulars of a few properties. No. 1 is a property of a little over three acres. It is rated oil a capital* value of £425 "and the rates now paid amount to £1 8s 6d. The borough rates not on the capital value, but on the annual value. The annual value is six per cent, of the capital value, and applying this formula we find the same property if in the borough would have to pay £1 1e id, or Is 5d less. No. 2, half-acre, £675 capital -value, county rate, £2 6s 10dborough rate (£4O annual value), £2 3s 4d; 3s 6d less. No. 3, one rood ei«ht perches, £490 capital value, £1 14» idborough rate (£29 annual value), £1 lis sd; 2s 8d less. We worked out the rates in eight properties, taken at random from the books, and in every instance the rates will be lower under the borough than at present We should explain that the amounts instanced include the hospital rate, but no special rates, for which, of course, the ratepayers would still be liable under the borough. We have lumped together the hospital and general rates in the case of both councils. So much for the rating aspect. We contend that even were the rates higher under the borough, it would still be good business for the suburban ratepayers to seize the opportunity of joining the borough. The water service would be extended; the present charges would be reduced; the suburbs would have a claim upon the services of the Fire Brigade (they have none at present); the electric light would be extended; they would be considered in the installation of a tram service, not immediately perhaps, but of a certainty when the mam line of the proposed system commenced to pay. The suburbs would also share in the evergrowing profits of the electric lighting; department and abo in the revenue from the borough reserves, which are yearly becoming more valuable. On the other Hand, the ratepayers ean hope for no relief from present rates or gain in other ways by remaining in the county, which, as a matter of fact, ig "up against' a very tough problem in the maintenance of its main roads. The only way out is a special loan, and a <?. °, ne that, and even the suburbs will be unable to escape liability. But the matter has been so thoroughly threshed out in the past that suburban ratepayers know the position from eTf wJ >0 " lt T ' evr 38 we " we do and that they will "g 0 solidly" for the' proposal before them to-day we har« not the slightest doubt.