GREATER DUNEDIN.

Evening Star, Issue 11889, 18 May 1903, Page 6

GREATER DUNEDIN.

SOUTH DUNEDIN OPINIONS. Mr J. Chetwin, Mayor of South Dua> «din, who was interviewed this morning, said: lam oppotwd to amalgamation until some definite scheme is brought froward showing.what the advantages and disadvanUges of such a union would be. ; I thmk that amalgamation of the three Plat b° r °ugh» should precede amalgamation with the City. The community of interest between ■ the Flat boroughs in their present stage of development is much greater than between the city and suburbs, l fail to tee what material advantage would accrue to Dunedin by amalgamation with the pity. The question of ■ gas lighting baa been he’d out as a probable advantage that would follow amalgamation with the City, but under amalgamation of the three Flat boroughs an arrangement is possible for the purchase of our own local gasworks. Under that arrangement gas lighting would be much cheaper than at present U the three Flat boroughs were to unite the total area would he greater than the City of Dunedin, and I see no reason why tho three combined boroughs should not be able to borrow money on quite as favorable conditions as a combined city and suburbs. At present onr boron sh knows exactly what its income and expenditure amounts to, and also the cost to almost a penny of administrative charges. Under amalgamation with the City we conld not possibly get more for the rates we are j»ying than we now get, and we would run the risk of less direct supervision and control over our local works. So far as South Dunedin is concerned we have nothing to gain in the way of tramway concessions, as we have already come to terms with the City on that matter/ Then, as regards water, under amalgamation with the City we would not get water at a less cost than 6d per l.OOOgal, the price we now pay. All we would get by amalgamation, so far as I can see, would, be the name of'being a part of Greater Dunedin, but that is not a sufficient inducement to amalgamate. If we are to have better roads and streets, someone must pav for them, and I do not think the City wiU be magnanimous enough to provide us with the necessary funds out of their taxation without taxing us also. We can have better roads and streetways under orating conditions if we choose to pay for them, and we would have the advantage, as I have before pointed out, of directly controlling and supervising such improvements; and past experience indicates that under City management the coat of each works would be greater than under a local control. Ur W. Wardrop takes a very opposite view to that ■ held by the mayor of borough. He says:—l favof amalgamation on the general principle that we an altogether over-governed. There never was any necessity for the creation of so many governing bodies, and the necessity does not exist at tho present time. There is nothing done in the various boroughs that could not be done as speedily and effectively from the Town HalL (Speaking for South Dunedin and Caversham Boroughs, _ that I am immediately acquainted. with, I should say they are only municipal machines to collect money for the payment of interest on loans, salaries, and other incidentals. In South Dunedin, after meeting these calls, we have a paltry £3OO left for expending on the roads and footpaths during the current year. Take the three boroughs on the Flqt—probably they do not expend more than £1,200 per annum on material, and yet we require three mayors and thirty-four councillors to attend to the business. Surely no one can contend that three separate bodies are required to expend that small sum of money. In my judgment, the boroughs at the south end have nothing to lose by union, and though the advantage* at present may appear small, yet in course of time they will become enormous. Small boroughs unendowed can hardly ever expect to any substantial reduction in rates; whilo the City of Dunedin is so handsomely endowed, and. engaged in so many commercial enterprises, that one might almost look forward to the time when rates will be dispensed 'with altogether. In a few years there would probably be a readjustment of wards, and the present borough boundaries obliterated and forgotten. The widening of the Main road is a matter that ought to have received attention many years ago, and would have received such attention had we been part of the CSty. So long as we divided the ratepayers are too parochial ever to sanction the expenditure; but a Greater Dnnedin conld carry out the project without endangering finances. To see the opposition raised to union by suburban mayors and councillors, one would imagine that the salvation of Dunedin depended upon it having its municipal borders extended, while the truth is that none of the boroughs are in a position to give a single pound to the City. The probabilities are just the other way, and that the City would have to find money for the improvement of the suburbs. ■ A Greater Dunedin would mean an increase of 15 to 25 per cent, in the value of suburban propeity. The increase in capital value would mean an increase in rental value, and the increase in rental value means an increase in revenue to the funds .of Greater Dunedin. The streets would receive the benefit of the improved finances, and we might expect the streets watered and swept. South Dunedin would no doubt lose its rating power over the gasworks, which amounts to £3OO per annum j surely Dnnedin would give a quid pro qno, seeing that-that money is paid by the gas department in running a commercial business. Presuming the rates are made uniform with the C ty, that is not sufficient justification, from a business point of vieV, for the boroughs to refuse union. If tre contribute the same rates as the City, then we are entitled to participate in the management of all its affaire, and reap any advantage to be derived therefrom. .Asked as to the probable result of the Caversham poll, Mr Wardrop said he thought the vote would be against amalgamation, but that one good result of the .movement was that it bad caused public attention to be directed to the subject.