ROADING PRIVATE ESTATES IN THE BOROUGH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8340, 24 January 1907, Page 5

ROADING PRIVATE ESTATES IN THE BOROUGH.

A METHOD OF FINANCE SUGGESTED. THE COUNCIL UNSYMPATHETIC. Messrs Robinson and Robinson forwarded to the meeting of the Masterton Borough Council, last evening, a plan of Section 27 Masterton Small Farm Settlement, showing proposed sub-divisional roads for the Council's approval. Messrs H. C. Robinson and E.Waite waited on the Council in reference to the matter. Mr Robinson, after briefly discussing the plans with the Council, said: —"There is a very im- ' portant matter in connection with this sub-division which I wish to bring forward. The heavy initial cost of complying with the special roading requirements in respect of lands within Boroughs, manifestly operates to the disadvantage not only of the holders, but of the purchasing public and also of the Boroughs themselves. Under the conditions at present obtaining, unless the landholder is prepared to expend a very large sum of money at the outset, he cannot cut up at all; when he does cut up he cannot sell to the purchasing pub lie except at a price which will yield the additional cost to which he has been put. The Boroughs also suffer by the inside lands being placed at a great disadvantage when compared with lands across the Borough border, which, being more cheaply handled, are sometimes /cut up in preference to lands within the Borough. It would be manifestly to the advantage of all parties if some method could be adopted which, while providing for the complete fulfilment of the Borough's conditions, would at the same time do away with the hardship of tacking a large casli sum on to/the initial cost, while throwing no burden whatever on the Borough as a whole. A simple and perfect machinery. is available for such a purpose under the present law, and we propose to ask the Council to adopt it. Section 112, Sub-seetion 3, of the Municipal Corporations Act 1900 provides as follows:—Special rates may be made and levied within any portion of a Borough for the purpose of providing the interest or the interest and sinking fund upon a loan authorised to be raised for the exclusive benefit of such portion. Section 14 of the Local Bodies Loans Act 1901 provides that a local authority may raise a special loan for works in any particular part of a district when the total number of ratepayers affected do not exceed 100 and when three-quarters of the ratepayers consent in writing. This is done simply by making a Special Order, there being no necessity for advertising or for taking any poll, or complying with any other formalities. The advantages tT all concerned of adopting this plan and its absolute fairness are, I venture to say, sufficiently obvious. No liability is cast upon the Borough as a whole; the rate is the security for the loan, and the land affected is tfye security for the rate. It merely means that the machinery at, the command of the Borough is used to assist in the development of the Borough. My opinion is that the system should be applied in every case of roading for sub-division. We would point out that the principle could be easily and effectively applied to enable the cross streets connecting Chapel, Queen and Dixon Streets, which are urgently required and were recently mooted, to be obtained.- We hope by next meeting to have settled with the Borough Engineer the works to be charged against our land with an estimate of the cost. We propose, then, to lodge a written consent to the loan and a dedication of the land for the roads, and to ask the Council to make a Special Order to borrow the sum required, securing the re-payment by a special rate upon our lands. We are arranging for the actual work to be done under the supervision of the Boi'ough Engineer and in accordance with the Council's requirements." Cr Feist assured the deputation that the matter, would be carefully considered by tire Council. Mr Robinson thanked the Council, and the deputation withdrew. The Engineer directed the Council's attention to the fact that no outlet was provided on the plan. A desultory discussion took place both in connection with the plan and' Mr Robinson's suggestion. Cr Feist was in favour of referring Mr Robin- , son's suggestion to the Works Com-' mittee. Cr McEwen: There is nothing new in the suggestion. It is worked in the County Council every day. Cr Feist: It has never been be fore this Council though. Cr McEwen: No; but I cannot see any fairness in it anyway. Cr Feist moved, "That an ' outlet be provided on the plan to the top of Cornwall Street or Railway Road." Cr Morris said he would like to see thew hole matter stand over till the next meeting owing to the fact that a number of Councillors were absent. He moved in that direction. Cr Eton seconded the amendment, and said the Council should carefully consider Mr Robinson's suggestion and not be too hasty. Cr Ewington: I don't think the Council will pass the plans anyway." He seconded Cr Feist's mo-• tion. Cr Eton said that if a benefit was to be derived by the adoption ; of Mr Robinson's suggestion the Council should adopt it. | The amendment was put to the meeting, and lost by five votes to two. The Engineer stated that he considered that the best possible sub- ! division had been made of the estate. Since the plans had been sent to the firm of surveyors in Wellington it had been decided to alter them. He suggested that the depth of the sections, as shown on the plan, should be x ; etained. Cr Feist moved, and Cr Temple seconded, "That as far as the sections are concerned the plans be approved." The motion was carried. Cr Feist moved "That consideration of Mr Robinson's suggestion be held over till the meeting on Tuesday next." Cr McEwen: No! Cr Elliott: I say "No" too. We've got nothing before us. Cr Eton: It is only right and just that the matter should be held over and discussed next Tuesday.

Cr Feist: No harm can arise out of the carrying of the motion. A division on the motion resulted: —Ayes: Crs Morris, Eton and Feist. Noes: Crs Elliott, Temple, Ewington and McEwen. The motion was lost.