THAMES MUNICIPALITY.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 71, 30 December 1871, Page 3

THAMES MUNICIPALITY.

A public meeting was held last evening at the Academy of Music, to take into consideration the desirability of establishing a municipal corporation at the Thames. There was a good attendance. Dr Ivilgour was voted to the chair, and having read the advertisement convening the meeting, said he was sorry that one gentlemen (Mr AY. Davies) who was to have been present was unavoidably absent through illness. lie read a letter from Mr Davies apologising for non-attendance. The Chairman then proceeded to say that he had frequently had the honour of presiding on public occasions, but lie had | never been at any meeting called to disj cuss a more important subject than the present. It was not a new subject, for S some 18 months or two years ago the question had been discussed, and it had been agreed by the Kauwaeranga ratepayers at that time to postpouo the further discussion of the subject, on the ground that at that time the expense could not be borne. That conclusion was perhaps erroneous then, but times were bad, and it did not seem wise to many to incur the liability, limes, however, now are changed and greatly improved. AVe had experienced what divided municipal rule was. and he thought the time had now come for them to unite and make an effort to obtain a corporate institution, without which they could not hold property, nor obtain endowments, nor properly carry out any general scheme of local improvement. It might he said, this is all very good. A corporation is a very good thing, but can we afford it ? Yes, he thought they could, and that it would be cheaper. According to the Act, any place containing 250 ratepayers can obtain a corporation, on petition of 100, no counter petition of larger numbers to the contrary, so that it rested with themselves whether they would have a municipality or not. If they got a mayor to act gratuitously, and restricted the number of officers to a few, they would certainly be at no greater expense than the three highway boards. He considered this was a most favourable juncture at which to agitate this meeting. Provincial institutions were dying out, and when they are at an end the General Government would have at their disposal much of the revenue which was now absorbed hj’- the Provincial Government, and it was the people’s own fault if they did not get some of it.

Air Goodall proposed the following resolution :—'“That, in the opinion of this meeting, it is desirable that a Municipal Corporation should be established for the Thames.” He said he had great pleasure in moving the resolution, and he quite concurred in the remarks which had fallen from the Chairman as to their having arrived at the right time to exert themselves to obtain a municipality. They had been hitherto rather too lukewarm, hut now the}' had something tangible within their grasp, which he advised them to take hold of. If they were united they must obtain it, but if the}' remained divided as they had always been, he did not see how they were to progress as the}' ought to do. They would obtain great advantages under a municipality, and believed it would be done cheaper than under the present system of three different Highway Boards. The expenditure in salaries alone would be cheaper. They had 3 engineers and three secretaries, and 3 sets wore all working against each other. Would it not be better to have one well paid engineer and secretary. Each year the work of these Boards was getting larger, and their expenses would increase. He thought one head was better than three. As an example of what was done under the divided system he would instance the road between bhoitland and Parawai, he went to the boundaries of the two districts, and had never had anything done to it by either. Under a municipality they would he able to let larger contracts. Now they were not in a position to do much more than a little road making, but with a corporation they could hold endowments, and he believed they would eventually obtain the foreshore from the natives, which would bo a most valuable property. Now they had not even a recreation ground to call their own. This was not a question lightly to be deal with. It was one of very great importance. Some might say they were not prepared for Municipal Institutions, hut would they be content to remain always undei Highway Boards. The obtaining a Municipality would not prevent their obtaining other benefits —quite the contrary. If it was sought that the district should be separated from the rest of the province, and made into a county, very good ; but the opposition would be too strong at present. They must not he too grasping, otherwise they would be like the monkey who tried to hold too many nuts, and had to drop the lot. Let them take what they could get now, and more afterwards if they could get it.

Mr Huron came forward to second the resolution, and was greeted with sonic questions from the body of the meeting : liow about contracts ? Don’t rob the poor people ; after which lie said : In rising to second the resolution just proposed by Mr Goodall, 1 will give you my reason for so doing. In the first place I have observed that the general tendency of the legislation of the late and previous sessions of the General Assembly of New Zealand has been in the direction of abolishing Provincial Institutions, and conferring on local bodies larger powers of self-government. The present Colonial Government, who succeeded to power entirely on the strength of supporting Provincial Institutions, have been the very first to destroy the ladder by which they attained the summit of their ambition. Their fust step in this direction was by passing an act in 1870. to alter the amount of revenue of the Colony payable to the several Provinces (called the Payment to Provinces Act), whereby they substitute the capitation allowance of two pounds per head of the population (for the three-eighths Customs revenue previously paid), and continue this payment for a period of six years, at a gradually receding scale of annual payments, until it shall have reached the sum of thirty shillings, when for every subsequent year it shall be fixed at that rate. We find that the exigencies of the State have been so great that this grand scheme, by which the Provinces were to fatten on clover, has vanished into thin air, and the public are beginning to see through the film and dust by which they have been blinded, and are determined in futuie not to be beguiled by any such delusive phantom this year. We are told that the total amount of capitation grant | arable to the Provincial Government of Auckland, after paying interest on loan rod salaries of colonial officers provisionally charged, will be about, in round numbers, £4OOO, and were it not for the goldfields revenue, the probabilities are that the Auckland Government would be in a complete state of collapse. Under these circumstances, and seeing that we do not get our fair share of the revenue derived from this field expended here, let us by all means try and obtain a corporation un-

der the Municipal Corporation Act of 1807, and I feel confident that by our united efforts we shall succeed in obtaining our legitimate share of the public expenditure in improving and fostering a district of such immense importance to the province and the colony. Had his Honour the Superintendent possessed the administrative ability with which he was credited on his accession to power, I feel assured that he would not have lcfL this field to languish and die without a helping hand to develope and increase its vast resources. If he had provided employment for the men who left here in vast numbers in 1870, it would have been the means of a large saving to the colonial exchequer in securing the services of men inured to colonial toil, and for which it was necessary to make legislative provision for the introduction of immigrants under the Public AA'orks Act, 1870, by which the Governor was authorised to expend one million sterling on the introduction of immigrants into the colony. In fact his Honour thought the goldfield a sham, a delusion, and a snare ; and lie was aided in this belief by his factotum Dr Nicholson. AVcll, sir, time has proved that the}' were both wrong and that they had not the sagacity and forethought which ought to be so largely possessed by our rulers. Had they gone into power with the belief that this was to be the future capital of the colony, as has been predicted by the circum-navi-gator, Captain Cook, they might have done something towards opening up communication (through that splendid agricultural district, the Valley of the Thames) with the AVaikato, either by a good road or a railway, having a branch line to Tauranga. The Government, who would undertake and carry out successfully this important work, would settle for ever the native difficulty, and deserve to have their names handed down to posterity asbcnefactors of their race. I could mention many works that might have been undertaken by the powers that be ; but I forbear, in the hope that this municipality for which we seek will be granted to us, and, having obtained, wc shall distance all competitors in the race of civilization and progress. Having thus given my reasons for supporting the formation of a municipality, which are that the Colonial Government wishes to increase the powers of local bodies, and abolish Provincial institutions, and that under the present Provincial Administration we do not get a fair proportion of our local revenues expended on the field, it therefore behoves the residents of this district to secure such persons as will enable them to hold and and administer all endowments that may either at the present or any future time be placed at their disposal. AA'ith reference to the cost of a municipality over the Highway Boards, I may state that a calculation has been entered into, and it is found that it will not exceed that of the Highway Boards as at present conducted. In the case of amunicipa’ity, one officer would accomplish the work that three arc now employed in doing. E.G., one engineer, would do the work of the three employed by the Boards. One secretary where there are three now employed ; one assessor and one collector would in each instance do the work of three, and if the salaries paid to each of these several officers be amalgamated and given to one, then, I presume, the work will be as efficiently down, and you will be enabled to command the sei vices of a very respect able class of officers. As to his AVorsliip the Mayor, whoever that distinguished individual may be, I consider that his office should lie strictly one of honorary distinction, and without salary for the present. Air Speight said he came here to gain information of the grounds upon which it was sought to establish a corporation, and he thought to have heard this from the mover or seconder ; biw lie failed to see the grounds, if any had been shown, and he thought the meeting should have had more explicit information. _ lie did not come here in a facetious spirit to oppose, hut he should like to have heard more to the point. The previous speakers had held out a sort of delusive hope that at some time or other they might get some endowments to which they were entitled, but he wanted something more tangible now. A corporation could be formed at any time. He did not sec that there was any especial necessity for it now. lie did not think there was any probability of their obtaining the foreshore at present. As to what had been said of the cheapness of the municipality, hr believed no the work was properly done that was not properly paid for. If the Mayor was to be anjhonorary officer, the best men would not come forward. In Auckland, the Municipal Council was a disgrace until they voted proper salaries, and Downloading men sought scats there. (A A oice : Name.) Air Farmer. (lie’s not in yet.) He considered if the Corporation was obtained, wc would be in just the same position as before.

Mr A. MiJ.r, said be bad been one of the conference which had been held on this subject formerly'', when they came to the conclusion that they could not, at that time, entertain the hope of having a corporation, because they’ had no endowments or other moans of meeting the expense. Now things were different. They had the offer of the waterworks. That was one endowment at all events, although a small one. The Government would not hand over the works to the Highway’ Boards and were they’ to be handed over to a private company’ ? Let the people do all they could to get these weterworks in their own hands. They were surely capable of managing them and the few thousands they cost. The government had no right to hand them over to a company. Ho believed the district boards had done a great deal of good, and would have done much more if they had had more power. It was all very well to say this private company would he ready’ to hand over the work to a corporation at a future time ; but would the corporation be prepared to take them over when, perhaps, £’20,000 had been spent upon them. Larger works would have to be undertaken by this company, and in the largerjthe smaller would I r lost sight of. He thought this was a most favourable time for the establishing a municipality, and that although it might be some time before the foreshore was obtained, they might obtain other things in the meantime. He cordially supported the resolution.

Mr Burgess said lie had a few words to say’ as to the relative expense of the Highway Board and a municipality’. He had with others made a calculation and found that the latter would be cheaper. In advertising alone, 33 per cent would he saved, because there would be one set of advertisements in place of every three. Then as to office rent. They were at present on the charily of the Secretary, who worked for a miserable pittance, and the work was so increasing that higher salaries would have to be paid. At present the expenses of the three engineers were £240: Waiotahi, £80; Kauwacranga, £l4O (percentage) ; Tarawai, £2O ; secretaries, £118; collection, £110; valua-.

tion, £81; total £683. Under a corporation, the expense might be set down : Engineer, £250 ; clerk, £l5O ; and this, with valuation, &c., would amount to about £SOO, leaving a balance in favour of tho Municipality of £lB3. He urged them to be united, and all vote for a Municipality. Air AVarmoi.l, who was received with cheers and some laughter, and cries of “ llere’s the Mayor!” “When’s the Man-sion-house going to be built?” said this was not a laughing matter, but one of serious importance to the ratepayers. Tho question at issue was would they manage their own affairs, or have them handed over to the Provincial Council? Any ratepayer who aspired to be mayor had a right to do so. He did not himself aspire to be mayor. He had plenty of business to attend to without. He had taken some trouble to go through a calculation with others as to the expense, and if they got the services of a mayor gratuitously, the annual expense would be, as had been stated, about £683, considerably less than the cost of the Highway Boards. The chairmen of the Highway Boards had about as much to do as the mayor would have, and they gave their services gratuitously. The interests of the goldfield, and the interests of the municipality, were identical. Both were desirous of having the local revenue expended in the district in which it was raised. This was an isolated part of the country, cut off from communication, except by water, from the rest of the province, and as it were set apart. Their interests were not identical with Auckland at all. In Victoria there were a large number of municipalities, and they got the fees from the publicans’ licenses, auctioneers’, local courts, &c., but here the Provincial Governments got them. He was in favour of all districts all over the Colony forming municipalities, and uniting to obtain from the General Government their share of the revenue raised in their own districts, and if he were elected a member of the Corporation he should bring forward a resolution to that effect. As it was the Government got the revenue and spent it as it liked. Provincialism must be done away with and municipalities be established, then they would have money to spare for a uniform system of drainage and road making, which was impossible under three different sets of road boards. Another reason why he advocated the establishment of municipalities was because they had been adopted in so many places, and wherever they had been established they had given satisfaction, and there was no desire to return back to the road board system. He understood from Air Atackay that the matter of tho foreshore was now under the consideration of the Government, and that the foreshore from the Kauwaeranga to the Karaka would mostly be handed over as an endowment, and it would be a very valuable one. He thoroughly objected to the waterworks being handed over to speculators. He put it to the common sense of the meeting to support the resolution. Air J. Bagnall put a question as to what would become of the Government grant to the road boards in the event of the establishment of a municipality. Air Goodall answered to the effect, that whatever little they might lose would bo amply covered by the benefits to be derived from the municipality. Air COOLAHAX supported tho resolution, and pointed out what an advantage the establishment of a Alunicipality hail been to Auckland.

Air Swan said he had not expected to have been so soon here supporting the establishment of a Alunicipality, for some months ago he had pointed out the unlikelihood of obtaining a corporation, and pointed out reasons why it was then undesirable to press the matter. He then saw no prospect of any endowment. Now it was different. In 1870 the General Government voted £50,000 for Road Boards, taken from the revenue not from loan, but in order to back up the bucolical vote. They had this year doubled the veto, but he would ask, was it likely that they would get the money this year, in the face of a negotiation for another million loan in London. He was now in favour of the establishment of a municipality, believing it would be a strong lever to obtain an ulterior object, and to get the revenue spent here which was raised here, and was being absorbed by the Provincial Government of Aucklaud. If they were united, he believed they would obtain this. The present Government, he believed, was most anxious to do away with provincial institutions, more so indeed than was the former Government, which ho had supported. The resolution was put, and declared by the Chairman to have been carried unanimously.

Mr Burgess moved, “ That the Chairmen of the respective Highway Districts of Kamvaeranga, Waiotahi ami Parawai, together with Messrs Perston, Scott, Butt, Dean, Grove, Swan, Warmoll, Heron, Mackay, Ivilgour, E. K. Tyler, Allom, R. Graham, Goodall, Lloyd and Brearly’ (with power to add to their number), be a committee to take the necessary steps to carry out the object of the first resolution, five to be a quorum.” Mr Waters seconded the resolution' which was carried. Mr Ali.om said, as a Government officer fie had not intended to speak, but as the only member of the Parawai Board present, he considered it his duty to state that the Parawai Board assented to the resolution with this reservation, that it should be open to them to express dissent within 2 months by counter petition, and to extend their boundary to the Hape Creek.

A vote of thanks to the chairman tenni-* nated the proceedings.