GREATER AUCKLAND

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 166, 14 July 1914, Page 5

GREATER AUCKLAND

ANB REMUERA S POSITION. RATEPAYKRS WHO OBJECT. Further evidence was heard yesterday and to-day by tbe Commission appointed to go into the proposal for amalgamation between the City and Remuera. Mr. t'. C. Kettle. S.M.. presided, and sitting with him were Messrs 11. M. skeet and F. Mackenzie. Mr. A. I-'. Skeltoij appeared for those Remuera ratepayer- in favour of the district joining Greater Auckland, and Air R. McYeagh for those who are opposed to it. •I. lit. Paterson, ratepayer, member of hhe Remuera Road Board, considered tiiat before the two bodies could join on even terms, the City should give Remuera £200,000 to square their financial status. The general rate in Remuera was 2/5 in tlie pound, and in the City it was 2/11 J. The difference between the two rates would provide interest and sinking fund for a loan of £45,000. Air. Pateraon objected to Remuera joining the City unless proper terms were secured, and tiie ratepayers were allowed to voice their opinions hy voting on the question. Witness produced figures to show that Remuera could supply .water from Alt. Wellington Tor 40.000 people at ninepence per thousand gallone. At present Remuera was paying the City 1/ per thousand gallons, and retailingit at I/O. Witness gave a number of other details, which, he said, convinced Qiim that it would be very unwise for Remuera to join the City unconditionally. Summing up his objections to amalgamation with the eitv, Air. Patterson gave tiliem as follows:—(1) Remuera would entirely lose representation; (2) Remuera would lose representation on the Drainage Board: (3) He believed in local government, the members of the local authority being property holders would be better able to carry out the business; (4) Remuera has a building area defined which prevents close building; (5) That property valuations will lie asessed annually by the city valuer, and genera) rate struck would he the amount struck by City Council, whereas now the Government valuation is fair; (6) That our present special votes would still be struck over the district to provide interest and sinking fund on loans already borrowed; (2) That Remuera is a residential area, and not at present suitable to municipal control, hundreds of acres being what might be called small country farms: (8) That, if any change were decided upon. Remuera should be made a borough; (3) That the city would take over the -present water plant, and yet leave the cost of construction a special loan on the Remuera district; (10) That Remuera has concessions from the Drainage Board of approximately £25,000. which concessions might he lost if amalgamation took place; (11) That Remuera has a "better water supply in view, and could sell to consumers at a lesser price than tbe city now charges the Roard Board: (12) That increased rates would be levied. Evidence against amalgamation was also given by Mr Harry Kinder. Mr 11. Monro Wilson, engineer, said that the Mt. Wellington supply would suffice for 20,000 people at 26 gallons per day—Remuera"s present average consumption. W. J. Parker, timher. merchant, resident in Remuera, and a. (member of the Road Board, said he was personally opposed to the amalgamation, hut would not object to it if a vote of the people were in favour of it. ■Lawrence Marehan-J, secretary of the •Remuera Ratepayers' Association, stated that after some years' residence in Remuera lie was convinced: that- independence was preferable to amalgamation under any terms whatever. He did not consider that a system of Govvernment. that was a-ppldc-a'ble xo a iknsely populated urban area such as Auckland, was suited! to a subuchaji area of tire general character of Remuera. He doubted whether Remuera would receive proper representation on the City Council, and -he was sure that its interests 'would' not foe .st> closely studied as. hy a .body o-f local men. Air. Skeet': But. you will lia-ve tire Mayor as a representative. He lives in your dirtrict. Mr. AlaTohand: He .won't he our representative. lilr. Skeet: Oh ye*, he wiK. Mr. Marehand: He won't be elect-ed tby Remuera people only. (Mr. Skeet: But will represent you all right. Air. 'Marehand: But suppose he were to mo-ce oxer to iPoct=.on*l>y. •Mir. f'k-eet (etniling): Extremely un-lik-aly. The inquiry is proceeding.