ONSLOW AND THE CITY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 89, 9 January 1919, Page 6

ONSLOW AND THE CITY

-. -—. —->— . QUESTION OF AMALGAMATION A POLL NEXT MONTH. The question of taking a poll of the electors of Onslow in February next on the amfalgamation- proposal was discussed at last evening's meeting of the Onslow Borough Council. ' In moving that a poll should be taken, the Mayor (Mr. J. M. Dale) said that ho proposed that the poll should be taken four weeks from date. The two questions which ohiefly concerned the electors were: (1) that, the rates should not increase without some benefit for such increase; (2) that the - conveniences of modern suburbs (chiefly water and drainage) be provided as soon as poy sible. On the first point 1 -he was gratified to be able to say that the rates payable' after, amalgamation would be less than at present. Tho rates payable when Onslow became part of the city would be: General rate, 2 l-10d., and library rate, MOOths of a penny in the £ on the unimproved value, with Hospital and Charitable Aid rate at 4sd." in the .C on the annual value (calculated at 6 per cent, on the capital value).' Those, toPfether' with -the existing ,Onslow special rates, would make, up the rates -pay■able.•'•• The result on a property of an unimproved value of .£IOO and a capital value of J!600 would be that ttie new rate payable would be Bs. 9d. a year less than .the existing Tatcs. \ The. position in Kaiwarra was not quite so favourable, but was still on the credit sule. They. ■ would all. agree that this was an.excellent position from tho'borough's point of view. , . '■' • 'As regarded the second point tho fact that the city had provided water and drainage for every place, from Wadrs- j town to Miraniar,- spoke for itself, and the i ■fact that it ./was the only safe way. to ' get these servTces should make them particularly grateful for this opportunity to become part of the city. It had alw> been arranged that , when the time came for a water and drainage scheme the poll thereon should be confined to those v who paid and received the benefit. He propose! to call public meetings at each of the townships before the At the poll all., the electors, including tenants, would'- be entitled to' vote. Councillor -E. A. Budd seconded the re- ( solution, and in . illustrating ' the saving that would be elr>*ted by amalgamating with the city, said that in-the case of Khandallnh the favinir on rates would be 12s: 4d., in that. of. Ngaio 11s. !)d.. and in the case of Kaiwnrrn (combined) ■ Is. 9d. It had bopn said that upon amalgamation the values and rates would increase, but he, had'irone into the inarfrr and was convinced tlmt this was entirely, incorrect. The tendonev would be for the ' values and rates to (l»cirense.- He was strongly in favour of the which would be a great benefit, to the i)6''on™h. ' • "'■■'• Councillor W. Appleton vres al?o in fnvour of thp motion. a"d said that suoh nmale'mnation -would be a step in the d'ri=cK"n o? obtainin?. such benefits as water and drainage, with tlie possibility of .a Irnm sorvicn. Hnslnw w:>« nonrorto ; thp General Po't Office f-ha'n Islnnd Piy, and it was time it h"d the benefits other 1 Iw-ouriis were enjoving. , Councillm , A...R. Torn coisi'lewlnmnlgamation inevitnWp, aiirt he li'oivrht the. present time most 'opportune for such.a sten. . . ■ Councillf" , A. TV. Polmer s"id that'>tlm Kaiwarm Ward was prepared-to'support tb» aninlirinuvtion. ' The motion was cari-ipd -withnu*- >fnrtbor disc"'=ion. ar-d the poll will- be taken on February 5. '