NAPIER SOUTH.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume I, Issue 53, 13 February 1911, Page 5

NAPIER SOUTH.

*The proposal to form that portion of Napier South outside the Borough boundary into a town district is creating considerable interest, and the suggestion meets with a very varied reception. It is, however, fairly generally acknowledged that the rapidly changing conditions of the Meanee Biding warrant some steps being taken to bring Napier South under some other form of administration. We do not suggest that the County Council has neglected its duties in that quarter, but experience has unquestionably shown that it is difficult for a local authority dealing with a large country district to provide the facilities and conveniences required by a populous suburb of a municipality. Water, drainage, lighting, etc., are all things more or less outside the province. of a County Council, and to provide and control these services the constitution of a body based upon community of interest is necessary. Accepting, then, the wisdom of separation, the community has now to consider the very important point as to whether Napier South should be merged in the Borough or control verted in a Town Board. The f question which will most vitally affect this decision will undoubtedly be one of rates. Will the district benefit more by possessing independent administration than it would do if merged in the Borough of Napier 1 Many ratepayers in Napier South will feel a certain disinclination to face payment of high nmnicqml rates, notwithstanding up-to-date sanitation and public conveniences in tike shape of lighting, footpaths, water, etc., and will contend that all that is required can be obtained by a Town Board at lew cost. Hasty decision on this point, however, would be most re grettable, and we earnestly recommend a thorough investigation of the whole position. At tike present time the Meanee Riding carries a fd general and jd special rate, struck on the capital value. The general rate of the Borough is 1/9 on the annual value, while special rates bring the total up to 2/5 in the £. While tike portion of Napier South merging in tike Borough could not escape its payment of the County special rate of |d, it would not be called upon to pay the special loan rates., of tike Borough, as these moneys were raised for the performance of special acts did not concern the County the time the money was raised. Will better terms than these be obtaining through the constitution of a Town Board, which, at the beat, can only be a temporary arnngementt Ratepayers interested should make investigations and thoroughly understand the position before any definite move is made, a nutshell: The general Counry rate is Id, and tike Borough general 1/9, which, based on the annual value are proportionately 6/3 and 10/6, but the special County rate) will have to be paid, and the; special Borough rate will not. This| apparently leaves a small margin in favour of the Borough. I