RATING IN HAMILTON.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1927, Page 11

RATING IN HAMILTON.

ROAD MAINTENANCE A BURDEN

COUNCILLOR'S COMPARISON.

REPLY TO THE MAYOR. (By Telegraph—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. Hamilton Borough Council last night passed the estimates. A general rate of 2 l-16d in the pound is estimated to produce £22.000. Special and general rates to be levied representing an approximate increase of id in the pound in each case are as follows: Hamilton, o> 7-ied; I-'rankton. 5 31-32 d; Claudeland?. 5 9-32 d; Maeroa, 5 13-32 d; Alexandra Street special area, l-13d; water rate, "i per cent. Commenting on the estimates, Councillor J. E. Tidcl gave comparison of the rates collected over the past six years. This showed the total in the year" 1022 was £.jS.S">S. This represented £4 per head of the whole population. They certainly knew the street- were in a far better po=it:o n than in K'22. but the fact remained that a great number of ratepayers would bo paying at the rate of £•3 10/ per foot for their properties. They ind always been led to believe that the uieater the capital expenditure on the permanent roads, the smaller would be "he upkeep. Unfortunately thi« had not boon bonic rv.it H in Hamilton. Motorists Paying. J; v.a- at aiiv :;:;(.• uiiu-rally recognised that the l>iur increase in the cost f.f read maintenance was due to motor traffic, hut he was satisfied the motorists were paying far more to the consolidated revenue than 'many people realised. He te!t that some of tliis money should be handed to municipalities. While Hamilton was no worse than other places in regard to rates, he was certain that the maintenance of roads could not be kep: up bv a tax on land. "Roads Used to be a Byword." The Mayor, Mr. J. K. Fow, --aid they must recognise that they had got a good deal of their money. Formerly the roads of the town were a byword throughout Xew Zealand. Now everywhere they were complimented on their condition. The general rate in 1P22 totalled £21,327. while this year it was only £22,000. The increase in rates could be accounted for largely by interest on loans. Councillor C. Lafferty considered the Highways Board should distribute some of its aefumulated funds amongst the municipalities. Tlie borough engineer (Mr. R. Wolley) ■said it must not be overlooked that in 1022 the expenditure en maintenance was £8000. and the roads were very badly maintained. Had the Council not spent the £160.000 road loan, the maintenance, with additional motor traffic, would now he £25.000 annually, and the town would still have had no roads.