AMALGAMATION OF NORTHCOTE WITH BIRKENHEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 165, 14 July 1902, Page 2

AMALGAMATION OF NORTHCOTE WITH BIRKENHEAD.

(To the Editor.)

. Sir,—-With - reference to Mr Woodroffie's letter of sth inst., wherein he says: "Under the Road Board control every penny of rates {general and separate) levied by that authority would be spent in our district by it entirely under the control of otir ratepayers." May I.ask (a) Is it not a fact that a road Hoard may levy a "separate rate" only, /not exceeding three farthings in the pound, the County Council still retaining the power to levy a "general rate" of a: like amount for county purposes, and in the expenditure of which the road board would have no voice ?(b) Is it not also a fact that of nineteen road boards at one time existent in Waitemata County, all but three have, on petition, been merged in/-the County Council? (c) Was not Northcote one of these road boards so merged, by petition of its own residents? (d) Did not its administrative expenses in the last year of the road board regime amount to nearly 50 per cent, of its separate rate?. As regards the Brikeniiead loan btigbear, it may interest Mr Woodroffe to know that.a legal opinion may be obtained to the effect that the authority. the original loan, as sufficient' to permit the convei'sion or payment of the oTd loan into or bj r a new one.—l am, etc., , }

HAROLD W. HUDSON