MOUNT EDEN KATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 50, 28 February 1901, Page 3

MOUNT EDEN KATEPAYERS' ASSOCIATION.

A special meeting of the Mt. Eden Ratepayers' Association was held last evening in St. Barnabas' Hall. There were about fifty members present. Mr 11. K. Cooke occupied the chair.

Report.—The Executive, in their annual report, stated that during the past three months delegates appointed by the association had attended each meeting of the Road Board, but there was a disposition on the part of one or two members of the Board to slight and make disparaging remarks about the efforts of the association. Through the efforts of the association negotiations were re-opened between the Board and the Electric Tramway Company; proposals -had been submitted to the Company's representatives in England, and a reply is expected by the next English mail. No satisfactory reply had been received from the Board re a polling booth on Mt. Roskill Road, and the Executive urged that a definite reply should be insisted upon. The- Executive h?d been

asked to obtain information re tho formation of a borough. The Road Board had promised to call a meeting- of ratepayers to consider the matter within six months from May last, but they had taken no steps to do so. The Executive believe the formation of the district into a borough would be in the best interests of the ratepayers and recommended that the Board be requested to take steps accordingly. The question of rating on unimproved values had also been considered, and the Executive recommended that the Board bo asked to have lists prepared and sent to each ratepayer showing the difference between the present method and the rating on unimproved values, so that in the event of a poll ratepayers would be fully posted. Reference was also made in the report to the election of a new Road Board, and the Executive recommended the selection of a ticket with a view to having the whole district represented The membership of the association was now SS, and steps were being taken to secure some central meeting place in which meetings wbuld be held.-On the motion of Mr i. Warren die report was adopted. The Borough Question.—Mr H. R. Cooke I moved: "That this meeting regrets that J the Mount Eden Road Board has not convened a public meeting of ratepayers to consider the question of the formation of the district into a borough, in accordance with the promise made by the Board at the annual meeting held in May last and this meeting requests the Board to take the necessary steps with all convenient speed to have the district constituted a borough."-Mr Y. Warren seconded ho motion. One of the advantages bf d borough would be the division of the district into wands, and a more equal represent-! tion. There was no doubt tha? thTexpense would be greater under a borough than under a Road Board.-Mr. Fulleng thought caution should be exercised/especially in the way of ascertaining the increased cost of running a borough -The Chairman said the, expense would not he very much greater, and the advantages would be very much increased. Tha district wou d have increased powers under a borough Similar districts appeared to bo well satisfied with the altered state of things secured by the formation of road districts into boroughs.-The motion Zl« carried with one dissentient WaS Bating on Unimproved Values.—Mr Tohn son moved, "That this meeting approves ?f the levying of local rates on the unimph.v n Ta, lur^ of.h,nd iv ihb Mount Eden C Board District, in accordance with the bro Act, 1896. Mr Johnson 84lifl \ h t ■ quest signed by 15 per cent, of the ratepayers the Koad Board would be required to nrrange for a poll within 2S days, md if there was a bare majority in favour of the proposal it would be carried. The Act anplied only to the general rate, not to tlie water or lighting rates. The total value of property in the district wa.s at the last assessment £448,090. The total unimproved value was £194,560, and the +otnl value of improvements was £254,1:10. The result of rating on unimproved values was to reduce the rating on every person who had built upon his property and was using his property, and increase the rating upon large areas of unimproved land. In Isolated cases there could be cause for objection, but. oniv iv Isolated cases, it was'la hia opinion unjust to increase a man's taxation because he improved his property. Unimproved rating had been carried In about 23 districts in New Zealand, and he believed before long lt would be general throughout the colony. —Mr H. R. Cooke seconded the motion, and In support quoted the arguments which induced the Devonport people to adopt the new method' of rating.—The motion was carried.—Mr Johnson moved, "That this meeting requests the Mount Eden Road Board to supply to each ratepayer, at the expense of the district, a notice showing the amount of rates payable by him ywler the present system of rating on "capital value, and the amount payable in the event of the provisions of tKe Rating on Unimproved Values Act, 1896, being brought Into operation in the district"—Mr H. R. Cooke seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.

Another Polling Booth.—Mr Daldy moved, "That this meeting regrets that the ;Monnt Eden Road Board has not given a reply to the petition of ratepayers presented to ttje Board In November'last praying that a polling booth should be established in Mount Roskill Road, or given any other than evasive replies to the repeated applications of the Association on the same subject. And this meeting requests the Board to give a definite reply to tho ratepayers signing the petition, and to this Anwi.ition, informing them whothpr the Board will or will not grant their, r.rflnest." — Mr Bridgman seconded the motion, which was carried uy:_nl_uously, the meeting being evidently determined to Insist upon this convenience' being granted In the Interest^ of ratepayers on the Mount Eosklll Road side of the district.—Mr Salmon moved, and It

was-agreed, "That a copy of the resolntioiis carried be forwarded to tlie Mount Kden Road Board."

The New Board.—The Chairman said in framing a ticket for the coming election (be executive intended to select five good exiKuieiv.-ed men. two from tbe Mount Kden side, two from the Mount Roskill side, and one from the middle of the district. (Applause.) The matter was now under consideration. . .