A STATE-OWNED TOWN. SKETCH OF ROTORUA.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 26, 31 January 1908, Page 2

A STATE-OWNED TOWN. SKETCH OF ROTORUA.

AUCKLAND, This Day. The writer of a series of articles" on Rotorua, v.hicli aro now appearing in the Herald, thus- deals with the experimrnt of State ownership which is now being carried out there. Rotorua is said to bs the only State-owned and Statemanaged town in the British Empire, and though, as a race, we are individualistic, it is a very line argument iD favour of national control. It has a resident population of about 2000, and a floating population of about the same number. Us broad streets, mad? shady by noble trsos, its wide side-walks and bicycle tracks, would seom extravagant to tha ordinary ratepayer or city councillor, but they, aro such as all cities" and towns should possess. Tho State has provided- it with electric lighting, 1 with a magnificent water" service, with a comprehensive drainage scheme,, with well-kept public gardens,, and abundant recreation grounds; tho residents are asked only to coutribute to the support of the fire brigade and the library. Rotorua is a town without taxes, and its inhabitants therefore ought to , count themselves wonderfully fortunate, particularly as they enjoy more than the vsual amount of municipal advantages. Certainly there is ijo other town in New Zealand, .t>r oven 111 Australasia, so complete in all its arr&ngsrtients 1 for public convenience,, .'and even for pleasure. One would naturally think that for all these advantages' residents" would have to pay a n ,very high, price for their holdings, instead* of which theft ' fenfts when paid direct to tli'e Crown are ridiculously low. Iv some cases " sections are , leased at £2 per year, the lease being for 99 yoars without 'compensation. ' Sonic people] are enjoying 'the unearned increment even in' 'this'- State-owned town; <I heard v of one malt who~ had sold his lease rights for l £looo, and ; others have subdivided their holdings and them at &v enormous premium.' The experiment off State-ownership ' and State-management' of ' Rotorua promises to bo a great success, ■_ for 'most of the municipal undertaking's will yield in time a financial profit. Tho water supply, which Cannot be * surpassed anywhere, either for pufity ov abundance of pressure, costs tho householder £2 per year, or if by meter Is 6d per XOOO gallons, whilst the electric lipht is supplied at 8d •.'■.Sunit,' with a 25 per cent, rebate.