EGMONT COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 August 1921, Page 7

EGMONT COUNTY.

RAHOTU’S PROPOSED SECESSION. DEPUTATION TO TARANAKI > COUNTY. A recent meeting of ratepayers of the northern portion of the Rahotu riding of the 'Egmont County Council resolved in favor of merging with the Taranaki County. Following this decision a deputation consisting of Messrs. H. N. Chapman, W. B. Smith, A. Taylor, W, C. Caldwell, and A. J. Lilley, waited on the Taranaki County Council yesterday to discuss the proposal, and they will report to another meeting of ratepayers shortly. Mr. Chapman said the deputation was seeking information prior to calling a further meeting. They deeired to know in the event of the area they represented merging into the Taranaki County Council whether they would be taken in on all fours with the other ridings. Cr. A. Morton replied that there would have to be an adjustment of assets and liabilities with the Egmont Council, and if it was found that the new area was in debt the Taranaki County would have to take over their liability. Whichever way the balance lay they would be in exactly the same position as regards indebtedness. They would not commence with a clean sheet unless they had one at present. I Answering a question on electrical j supply, the chairman (Mr. J. S. Connett) said the council had been in touch ; with the Borough Council over the area 'to be served. The borough had fixed I the boundary as Stony River, but this j was only a nominal boundary and they i had given an assurance that the portion ;of the county outside the boundary named would also receive attention. He therefore did not think there would be any difficulty in securing a further extension to cover the .portion of the Rahotu riding if they came into the Taranaki County. The deputation was informed that the council kept no road accounts; no particular roads received preferential treatment. With regard to representation, if the whole o>f the Rahotu riding merged into the Taranaki County they would probably be entitled to three members.

The council was asked if it would be agreeable to the new riding dividing into wards as the ratepayers at present found that it was too bulky, and one end out-voted the other. Cr. Morton suggested that the ratepayers should consider cutting the area up into two ridings. The clerk (Mr. R. 0. Ellis) in reply to a member, said the merger would take effect as from March 31 next. Mr. Caldwell asked if there would be any opposition from the Taranaki County, and the chairman replied that the council would desire to look over their roads and investigate the conditions. Mr. Caldwell pointed out that they were at preflent being rated on. the improved value, and he wanted to know what difference the Taranaki system of rating on unimproved value would make to them if they came in. In reply, Mr. Morton said the new riding would not be called on to find any more in the aggregate than they had been doing, though it would be "levied by a different system. In regard to the new valuation the chairman said he understood the valuers were at work now. The deputation informed the council, in reply to questions that at present the movement in favor of the merger represented about half of the riding, but there wae a possibility of all the riding coming in. “We feel,” said one, “that our produce is coming this way, and that our rates should also be paid to this end.”

The deputation proceeded to discuss the question of the toll-gate revenue, and pointed out that they were contributing a fair portion of the receipts. They desired to know whether this would be divided up or whether the gate would be removed and a small extra levy made.

The chairman: In case of a removal of the toll-gate would you be prepared to carry the extra rate.* Mr. Chapman: I don’t think we, as representatives of the riding, would object to that, provided all were on the same footing.

The deputation suggested removing the gate to the new boundary of the county after the merger, but. the chair : man pointed out that by this method the Okato and Omata ridings would be losing some of the revenue they now got. He did not know whether the ridings concerned would agree to this. Cr. J. Wooldridge said he would prefer to adopt the course of dividing the revenue from the gate, and by this means the new riding would get some of their own money back. Mr. Chapman asked if it would be possible to put the toll-gate near Omata and thus get more revenue. The chairman said the council had been trying to gel; permission to erect another gate near Omata, but had met with a lot of opposition.

There was some further discussion on this subject in the course of which Mr. Chajpman said that the whole question of merging hinged on the matter of t?he toM-gate.

When the deputation retired the council discussed the allocation of toll-gate revenue, and it was deci>»l to suggest the following re-arrangement: Okato riding 9-17, Rahotu 5-17, and Omata 3-17. The revenue from the gate for the last year was £l7OO, so that a division of this on the above lines would result: Okato £9OO, Rahotu ,£5OO, Omata £3OO.