WARDS ABOLISHED

Wairarapa Age, 4 February 1927, Page 5

WARDS ABOLISHED

IN MASTERTON BOROUGH.

NO EFFECT ON RATES. ADJUSTMENT CLAIM DEFEATED. By a special resolution, the Masterton Borough Council last evening decided to merge the North and South wards into one ward. The proposal was contested by Councillor W’. Kemp, who held that the North Ward should be asked to contribute towards the cost of the South Ward’s assets, of which, he said, they had been getting, and would continue to get, the free use.

The Mayor stated that when the North Ward was taken from the county and added on to the borough, a new provision of the Finance Act required all boroughs to pay off their antecedent liability. The North Ward applied to be exempt from having to pay towards the South Ward’s liability, and was successful in its request. Since then the borough had paid the amount off, and His Worship thought the time was opportune to merge the wards. The merging did not affect the existing rates or the incidence of any special rates, these all remaining in the special rating area as at present defined. Once the special order was gazetted the whole Council went out of office, but the ordinary general election was set down for about the period that the council would retire, so it could be regarded as the special election for the re-election of the councillors. By this means the expense of two elections would be avoided. The Mayor moved that the council resolve by special order that the ward system be abolished in the Borough of Masterton as from April 1, and that the council consist of eleven councillors exclusive of tfic Mayor. A SUGGESTED ADJUSTMENT.

Councillor Kemp said the council required something that would be lasting. The borough had incurred much capital expenditure and he felt that there should be some agreement with' the North Ward on the matter. The whole of the borough implements had been paid for by the .South Ward, and he thought the North Ward should be asked to contribute towards their cost and also towards other assets which had been purchased solely by the South Ward.

The Mayor J “The then Mayor (Mr. Jackson) told the North Ward ratepayers at a public meeting six years ago that they would get the benefit of anything the borough had.” This, he added, had been an inducement to them to come in.

Cr. Kemp quoted an instance of money having been spent by the South Wa/d on repairs to the * road roller while it was working at Lansdowne. The Mayor: “Well, you could well pay for that from the money you receive in by-law fines. You get all that and we have never asked for any of it.”

Councillor Kemp: “I think it is quite fair to ask the North Ward to contribute.” This, he said, would do away with any feeling which at present existed. He thought the council’s assets should be valued for the purpose of basing some contribution by the North Ward towards the capital cost. He moved in this direction as %in amendment, which was seconded by Councillor C. B. McClvmont. PROMISES ON ENTRY.

Councillor O’Leary opposed the amendment on the ground that Mr. W. H. Jackson (then Mayor) had made promises to the North Ward and induced them to come in so that they would get the use of all borough facilities.

Councillor Heaps supported Councillor Kemp’s amendment, and stated that he was firmly of the opinion that if the North Ward was going to benefit from what the South Ward had done they should be prepared to pay for it. Councillor J. B. Rue said that apart from the merity of the case, he did not fee! disposed to go back on promises made by a previous council, but it should be pointed out to the ratepayers +hat the water and drainage schemes in the North Ward would always remain a charge on that Ward and would in no way become a charge on the South Ward.

Councillor T. J. Jenkins that any parochialism had arisen. The North Ward ratepayers did not want to profit at the expense of the South Ward. They understood that they were to be a part of Masterton and desired to take advantage of no one. A REPORTED DENIAL.

Councillor Kemp said that ex-Mayor Jackson had denied making such a promise and had stated that had he continued as Mayor he would have seen that some business arrangement had been made when the North Ward came in.

The Mayor: “You should have asked for these payments when they came in six years ago. should have made sure then that they paid according to your ideas.”

Councillor Kemp: “I have consistently complained, but this is the first chance we have had of discussing amalgamation. For six years they have spent their own money on their own war-L but now it is fi different mat-

The amendment was defeated by seven votes to three, Councillors Kemp, McClymont and Heaps supporting the amendment.

The motion was then put and carried on the voices.