PUSHING MANGAPAPA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3832, 15 May 1913, Page 5

PUSHING MANGAPAPA.

LOCAL CONTROL WANTED

TOWN BOARD OR BOROUGH? A COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO GO INTO THE MATTER. / In anything, the good people of Mangapapa are possessed of a commendable spirit of progress; they are, as one, desirous that- the people residing in the balmy suburb should be enabled to have all the benefits with which the other residents of the town are blessed. For the purpose of gaining some form of control, either by means of a town board or a borough council, close on 70 .residents gathered in the Mangapapa schoolhouse last evening, Mr W. J. McCliskie being elected as chairman of the meeting. The result of the deliberations, in short, was to form a committee of five members to confer and report as to tho advisability of forming a town district, a borough, or, as an alternative, amalgamating with the Gisborne Borough. THE PROPOSED DISTRICT.

The clia’irhian expressed pleasure at the large number nresent, and stated that the proposed town district, as shown on the map, was from the town boundary down to the riverside near the Tariiheru river, back over the hills across the Valley Rond in a westerly direction, following the old block line and striking on to Wade’s Valley road, then going down over the blockline, including part of Matokitoki, until striking the crock, which it follows down to tho mouth of tho Taruheru, on to the town boundary. The question, tho chairman added, was as to whether tho district should, decide to constitute a Borough or a town district. A borough would be a rather expensive matter. town board would bo more economical and a great deal could, by this move, be spent on maintenance and improvements. The population included in the suggested boundary was 1400 or 1500, and a pretty good show could bo made by that number. (Applause.) He had been in the district for 22 years, and he did not think that £IOOO had been spent on. roads in all that time. They had had to pay for their loans in the form of special rates. The whole matter rested with the meeting. (Applause.) TOWN OR BOROUGH ?, -

Mr Grandy said ho would like to sav something on the scheme before the meeting. They had no idea of going beyond a town district, and they found that any district having a population of over SGO <-ould form into a town district ;ukl have a town board, with complete control of the district. They were in a position, however, to form a borough. It was a matter that required to be very carefully considered, as to whiefi move would, result in the greatest benefit to. the district. It was within their bounds to form themselves into a town board or a borough, and tho question was as to which would have the greatest standing or be the most economical. Tho area had been gone into most carefully. If- the road district were formed without including that area from the boundary of Lytton Road, then there would be no inducement to spend money on the roads leading to the excluded properties. As a town district, thev would get a Government subsidy of 2s Gd in the £, and as a borough os in the £. In the Taruheru, Kirktown and Mangapapa portions, they had a population of 1500, and as the required population for a borough was 1000, they were well up to the number needed. Ho thought that to constitute a borough would give them much better standing. How many districts in New Zealand had formed town boards, and with what amount of success had they met ? It was H/and that 57 had done" so, but some had since become boroughs, on account of increased population. AYaipukurau, for instance, had formed into a town district, as the residents- required better attention and they had acquired much in the way of concrete’channels, footpaths, etc. Mangapapa, he contended. was the leading suburban district of Poverty Bay (applause.) He would urgo that'all present would, thoroughly discuss the matter. There was sufficient matter to bring affairs to a head, although there was no need to come to a definite conclusion that night. He hoped they would come to the decision which would be in tho best interests of the district (applause.) TOO MANY OFFICIALS.

The Chairman proceeded to read the law dealing with the formation of town boards. He was inclined to think that a borough would bo rather expensive. Mr Granville: Why? . The chairman: Too many officials; . but, of course, it depends on the ad- \ ministration. (Laughter.) Mr Granville: AVliat is the differ- - once between a borough and a town district? The chairman: That has been outlined. 4A r o will have to consider the expense of each. Mr Grundy: A borough means a Mayor and councillors, and a board means a chairman and members. The population for a. town district must be over 000, and for a borough must be over 1000. Air Granville: What further powers would a borough have? The chairman : It would have greater power regarding the collection of taxes and licenses. Mr Malcolm McLeod: A borough would have greater borrowing powers. Til? chairman: A borough would have greater powers as to rating and would also earn a higher Government subsidy. Mr Granville: Gisborne does not spend money on outlying parts, and yet we contribute to the rates. (Hear, hear.) „ ~ , ~ Mr Duncan: AATiat would be the cost of an election of a Borough Council, as compared with a road board? The chairman: AYe have no information as to the respective costs before us. , . ~ , c . Air Grundy said it would be safe to assume that the initial election expenditure would he small. <:DON'T INCLUDE AIE.” A resident asked if the formation of a town* district would prevent the borough from extending outwards? Tho chairman said it would stop the borough from extending. The questioner: AYhat is your objection? ' ~ . The chairman: I have no objection, so long as I ani-not included. (Laughter.) Tho chairman added that it appeared that the. Borough had already enough to attend to. Such matters as sanitation and water supply could be dealt with after the matter of footpaths and roads had received attention. ~ - . ~ . , , The chairman said in reply to a question, that the questions of the moneys out of loans spent on the district bv tlie Borough or the County,, would 'have to be settled by a. Magistrate. as to the district’s liability. > Mr Oaks pointed; out that the Borough was not spending a fan- amount on Atangapapa, andi they should therefore form themselves into a separate district. The district was an important one and should be made into a place with its own administration as early as possible. (Applause.) The chairman asked for a proposition.' He pointed out to a questioner that lAter bn a town board could develop into a borough, council. A OOAIAIITTEE FORMED. Mr William-Hay moved tha t a committee of fivo should be formed to decide whether a town board or a bor-.

ough should be formed. Mr Walsh seconded the motion. Mr M. McLeod thought that the scope of the resolution might bo made a httLo wider. The question to be decided was whether a town district or a borough should be formed or whether they should merge into the Borough. These matters should be lore to the committee. ■ . . Mr Oaks said that'an election, in any event, could not take place until September next. The chairman said that, so long as the members of a Town Board were elected within six months before tho subscribed' time, they would remain in office for two years. All mam roads would still bo under the control ot the County Council and two lots of rates would have to ho made. Mr Grundy said that the chosen boundary was selected, so as to a\ oicl dual control. • i , Tho motion was put and carried unanimously. ■ a I The following were .nominated, as a committee : Messrs W. J. McChskio, E. 'Grtmdy, E. Oaks, W. Hay, Malcolm McLeod, H. J. Clayton, W. Sharpin, 11. UolE . The election resulted: Mr McChskio (CO), Mr Grnndv (66), Mr Hay (52), Mr Oaks (49). Mr 801 l (38), The above, therefore, forms the committee. It was decided that a. further public meeting should be held on Wednesdav the 28th. ■ , , At a .subsequent meeting ot the committee, Mr McCliskio was appointed chairman and Mr Oaks secretary. It was decided that every member-pi the committee should obtain certain information and present it to a oontoience on Monday evening next.