EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 July 1921, Page 8

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

THE PROPOSED MERGER. DEPUTATION TO WAIT ON TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL. A deputation representing the ratepayers of the northern portion of the Rahotu riding of the Egmont County *is to wait on the Taranaki County Council at its meeting on Monday, to discuss the question of merging, and ascertaining the terms, etc., on which the whole district can be incorporated. At a further meeting oii Monday night the matter will be further discussed by the ratepayers, who are naturally desirous of carefully weighing the pros and cons before taking the extreme step of seceding. This decision was arrived at by the ratepayers at a meeting held in the Warea Hal! on Wednesday night, when about 50 ratepayers attended. Mr. A. J. Lilley was voted to the chair, and. after explaining the object of the uneetlng, called on Mr. H. N. Chapman, who explained that ho had interviewed Mr. Ellis, clerk to the Taranaki County Council, and’ had obtained some particulars, which he thought might be of some use. He had not brought these figures forward before because they were dealing with the Egmont County Council, but now that They were seriously considering the question of merging with Taranaki, he thought the time opportune to do so. lie stated that the valuation of the Egmont County at present was .£1,878,552, of which the Rahotu riding comprised £774,284. Tire present valuation of the Taranaki County was £1,416,446, viz., Waitara riding. £585,416; Okato, £385,098; Omata, £206,745; Mangorei, £239,787. Taranaki County comprised six members, viz., Waitara 2, Okato 2, Omata 1. and Mangorei J. On the same basis the Rahotu riding would be entitled to al least three members, and possibly four. Taranaki C<mnty was at present rated du the unimproved value, equivalent to 3d on the capital value, tho full amount allowed. No road within the county had been declared a main road, so that every road had equal rights in tho expenditure of the rates. He explained tha steps necessary to bring about merging. He thought if any portion of the Egniont County merged the revenue from the tnll-gate now in the Taranaki county would be extended over the whole length of the road. The revenue for the toll-gate last year amounted to £1912 12s lid, and this, less the cost of collection, was expended over the two ridings, Okato receiving £1278 aud Omata £426. A rate of 7-24 d struck over the Oonata and Okato ridings and the Rahotu riding by the Egmont County would produce an amount equal to the present net toll revenue. He understood also that the Taranaki County were negotiating With the New Plymouth borough re’ hydro-electric supply, and there would be no difficulty in extending the area to include any area, that merged.

In reply to Mr. Doody, Mr. Chapman said that he understood the toll gate, would be done away with if the ratepayers would provide the extra rate required. Continuing, Mr. Chapman said that ratepayers would still he liable for the bridge rate to the Egmont CounMr. Wright considered that the ratepayers in any area that seceded from a county would only be liable for a rate on the amount of the bridge loan that had been expended in that; area. The chairman stated that for his o*n part he was prepared to merge to-morrow. Even if ti’Cy paid Taranaki a 3d rate they would be better off than by paying Egmont a 2’Ad rate. They did not know at present how much they were paying through the toll, and personally he would sooner pay an extra rate and have the toll done away with. Mr’. Wright, wh<\ was asked to speak, said that he wanted to make his position clear. He had got tl?e blame for bringing forward the proposal for merging. ’ A voice: Say the credit, not the blame. Mr. Wright said that ho had been approached in connection with the matter some time previously by prominent ratepayers, and had not brought the matter forward himself. He thought the feeling in the southern portion of the riding was fairly solid in favor of merging. Mr. Brophy asked whether, in the event of the district merging, it would have to be rated on unimproved value, as Taranaki was. Mr. Wright said that one riding could be rated on a different basis to the other. They could not rate on unimprovd value without taking a poll. Mr. Brophy said that the unimproved value of the beach land, where the roads were pood, was high, aud in the bush land tho. unimproved value would bo low, and the rates would not keep uu the roads. However, it was only fair that the beach land should subsidise the bush roads, as they carted all their firewood and posts over the hush roads. Some discussion then took place on the proposals to erect extra toil-gates by the Taranaki County. Mr. Brophy considered that before they talked of raising extra money the Council should make better use of the money now raised. The chairman asked for.an expression of opinion from any who objected to merging, whereupon Mr. Lawn stated that he was opposed to merging. Ho was asked to place his views before the meeting, but did not do so.

Mr. Miles Lawn did not think there was much prospect of getting hydro-electric power from New Plymouth. They had a far better cliauce of obtaining power from Opunnke. New Plymouth.was talking of utilising th? Stony River in their, scheme, hut this, he said, could not be done. i Mr. Wooldridge, a member of the Taranaki County Council, who was asked to speak, said that ti e district, if it merged, would have to adopt the unimproved value, as the Taranaki County had adopted that system. At pre-' sent the capital value cf the Taranaki County was £9 per acre, as against £ll 5s in the Egmont County. Taranaki, on an average basis, was paying 2s 3d per acre rate, and | Egmont 2s sd. It would require a rate of about 5s lOd to make up revenue equal to the 101 l gate revenue. He did not know whether the Okato and Omata. ridings would agree to pay the extra rate and have the toll gate done away with. Further discussion ensued on the toll-gate question during which the opinion was expressed that if the county boundary was altered it would be necessary to put all ratepayers on the same footing, and the tollgate should therefor-’ he shifted closer to New Plymouth, to card’ all the ratepayers, or nearer the boundary, so that none of the ratepayers would have to pay toll. Some further discussion Look place as to the proportion of toll revenue the district would be entitled to in the event of merging. Mr. Wooldridge did not consider the tollgate had increased the cost of cartage. Owing to the good roads they were getting their produce carted more cheaply now than ever. If ti e road was tar-sealed the rate would I either be decreased or there would be more money available for the by-roads. Personally, he thought the by-roads could do with as much money as possible. If the settlers desired to participate in the tar-sohled road, they would Rave to raise a loan for the purpose. Members of the council .were very dissatisfied with the way some 'of the tarsealing had been done. Mr. Caldwell then moved that the meeting send a deputation to the Taranaki County Council to obtain further information on the subject. This was seconded. Mr. H. N. Chapman moved as an amendment, That this meeting is in favor of merging, and that a deputation bo forwarded to wait on the Taranaki County Council in’ regard to terras. Mr. C. Corbett seconded the amendment, which was carried. Messrs. A. J. Lilley, A. Taylor, W. C. Caldwell, W. B. Smith and FI. N. Chapman were appointed members of the deputation. A further meeting of ratepayers will be held at Pungarehu on Monday, August 8.