RATEPAYERS' HARDSHIPS

Evening Post, Volume LXXXV, Issue 18, 22 January 1913, Page 3

RATEPAYERS' HARDSHIPS

'' "AN UNDEDICATED UOAD. (bt muGHAPfl—ettciAt to tat to&v.)* ' 1' _ ' AUCKLAND; This Day. An instance of the hardships imposed oA, ratepayers in setae borotfghe by the limitations of "the Municipal Corporations Act * cropped up at -a meeting of * Borough Council.' A ratepayer requestetr"th"6'coSincil to/take over a'h'y-'street— itA, undedicated road which paeisfc* in ffbntof'the doors of quite a number "of ratepayers,' who complain bitterly 1 6f the \ abi^iice of decent rtfad' and ' fodtpath i'tfcilities. •'Hhe Mayor explained to the council that as the street was lese than 60ffin width the council was prevented by the provisions' of the Act from' taking ie over, and while'it remained undedjcated evely councillor was personally aftd' individually liable for any public money'expetfded'on it. ThuB r whiTo'the cottnctl^had to-demand- rates from the ratepayers on th© st-rsat. it. could not legally provide' those ratepayers' with ordinary municipal' facilities out Fof rAvenue from rates. There were several similar narrow- streets in Mount Eden whichi were dedicated when'the Act canie into operation,' and the only-way to get over the difficulty was to have provision made- in the Act for. such ca*es. r , rThe council decided to approach'the Government- on tho' matter, and, failing, satisfaction, to enlidt the. support of the Municipal Corporations ' Association.