AMALGAMATION CRUSADE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 301, 17 December 1912, Page 8

AMALGAMATION CRUSADE.

EDEN TERRACES POSITION. A 96-ACRE WEDGE. CITY AND ROAD BOARD RATES COMPARED. The advantage of joining the city under the Greater Auckland scheme were discussed at Eden Terrace last evening, when the Mayor of Auckland (Mr. C. J. Parr) addressed a meeting of the Eden Terrace ratepa-yei-s on the subject. Mr. T. W. McLachlan presided, and there was a fair attendance. Mr. Parr said he wanted it to be understood that his presence there that evening could net be construed into an invitation from the city that Eden Terrace should join Greater Auckland. His mission was purely an educative one. He was simply there to quote to them certain facts and figures which he, personally, considered should weigh with them in the consideration of this big question. In Auckland city there were 1,760 acres, containing 41,000 people. Property to the extent of 9J millions sterling was centred in the city. The remaining 40,000 people in the Greater Auckland boundaries were governed by sixteen different local bodies. Proceeding, Mr. Parr said he had no desire to discuss personally the local governing bodies, but lie did intend to attack the system. Road Board government in the centre of a big city was surely a bit of Rip van Winkloism. The people of Eden Terrace should bring their local administration up to date. What justification was there for a little wedge of 90 br 98 acres, such i-as comprised Edeu Terrace, continuing its local autonomy? The obvious course for Eden Terrace people was to enter into partnership with the city. To do so would cost them not one penny. If amalgamation took place they would become joint partners in all the magnificent asset} possessed by the city, including water supply, electric lighting, and nrcignilk-ent endowments worth three-quarters of a million sterling. In forty years' time there wouid he more coming in as revenue from endowments ■than from the rates, and at a modest computation they would be worth £100,000 per year. At the present time the city's revenue totalled £214,000 per year. Eden Terrace's annual revenue was £2,000. Other advantages included the use of the city fire brigade and all the city serviee-3. One favourable argument against amalgamation, continued Mr. Parr, waa: "What about the city's debt?" Admittedly, the city had a good, healthy debt. It was worth £1,758,000. Fully twothirds of that sum was reproductive. Half a million of that debt was sunk in water supply. What was that supply really worth? If it could be bought, a cyndicate could be formed in Queen Street to-morrow, which would jump at the chance of acquiring it at a million. Such being the case, would anyone say the debt waa not a good one? Loan money was sunk, too, in the electric supply. Would not the Gas Company like to buy that service? Loan money sunk in such cervices as these waa money well invested. A comparison, of rates in the city and Eden Terrace was 'then made by Mr. Parr, who declared that in the road board dktrict the ratepayers were at present paying one penny more. The figures worked out aa follows: — City. Eden Terrace. General 1/1 1/4 Library id. — Charitable Aid lAd. 2 2-7<L Sanitary 2Ad. — Lighting — 2d. Drainage Id. Id. 1/6J 1/9 2-7 In special rates, the city had the item of 1/3, interest on loans, while Eden Terrace had only 4 2-sd. In the city, water rates at 2J per cent worked out at 6d., while in Eden Terrace the average waa 0 per cent, working out at 1/2 2-5. The total, therefore, worked out at 3/3 Am the city, as against 3/4 3-35 in Eden Terrace. In conclusion, Mr. Parr urged that Eden Terrace wanted the strength of a strong partner. The main road was a disgrace to the district. (Applause.) If the Local Government Bill, when it came down next sesaion, was based on the lines advocated at the big conference held in Wellington early this year, such small road board districts as Eden Terrace would be wiped out. whether they liked it or not. It waa for Eden Terrace ratepayers to say whether they would approach the City Council and ask to be taken into partnership forthwith. y Mr. Parr, at the conclusion of his address, had to answer quite a storm of questions. The Mayor said he was sure the City Council would give EdcD Terrace the same guarantee as was given Parnell, that all the rates collected from the district ratepayers should be spent in the district. Ultimately a resolution was unanimously carried as follows, on the motion of Messrs McElwain and Nelson:—"That Mr. Parr be thanked for his address, and that this meeting is of opinion .that the time has arrived when the. question of amalgamation with the city should be decided at the ballot box, and that the Eden Terrace "load Board 9hould approach the City Council for its terms of union, and then sfford the ratepayers an opportunity for voting thereon."