AMALGAMATION QUESTION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 20, 19 June 1880, Page 2

AMALGAMATION QUESTION.

The adjourned meeting, which had been called at Brett and Johnston's Hotel, Normanby, to consider the advisableness or otherwise of taking steps towards an amalgation with Hawera, for the purpose of forming a borough, was held on Thursday evening. There were about thirty persons present. On the motion of Mr. F. H. Brett, seconded by Mr. C. BeresWl, the chair was taken by Mr. C. E. Gibson. The Chairman said — You have met this evening for the purpose of discussing the question of combining with the township of Hawera in forming a municipality. When the idea was first mooted I must confess I did not like it. It seemed to me as though we were to be made the step-ping-stone to glory for the Hawera people, and to be afterwards taken into leading strings and made to play second fiddle. However, having thought a good deal over the proposal lately, I have changed my opinion. At the same tune, Ido not wish any of you to be biased or led astray by my opinion, but to use your own judgments, speak your own minds, and disenss the matter in all its bearings. I think myself that both places would benefit considerably by the change. Sources of revenue would be opened that are now closed to town boards. Hotel licenses, wholesale licenses, auctioneers' licenses, hawkers' licenses, the dog tax, poundage fees, &c, would all find their way into the funds of the borough, to say nothing of a reserve of 2000 acres, to which I am informed we would be entitled. But, you may ask, what is to prevent all tliese good things from being appropriated by our big brother Hawera, or how are we to be guaranteed our fair share of them, or of any other nice tit-bits that may come along in the sweet by-and-by ? In answer, I may say that it is the rale — if not specially laid down in the Act — that all municipalities should divide into wards, each ward electing their own representatives, whose duty it is to see that their respective wards are fairly dealt with. In this case it has been proposed to divide into three wards ; the first ward to include Hawera and its extensions, the second ward to include Normanby and its extensions, and the third ward to take in the rural lands ljong between the two places. The rates derived from each ward to be expended within their respective boundaries, less a fair proportion of general working expenses. If after discussing the question this evening you should think well of the proposal, it has been suggested that a committee be appointed to confer with the Hawera committee. All matters of detail will be considered by this committee, and a report drawn up, which will be submitted to a future public meeting for your approval before anything definite is decided upon. In conclusion, gentlemen, I will just allude to one more point which I think is in favor of the municipality. At present we are paying two rates — a county council rate and a road board rate. As far as our township is concerned we derive no direct benefit from either. Not a penny of those rates can be expended on the streets within the township. Some of you may ask : Why not go in for a town board aud expend our own rates within the township '? I would just refer you to the balance-sheet of the Hawera Town Board, now published in the Star. Imagine Hawera, a new township, just going to make its first start without a balance in the bank, no reserves, and no prospect of a Government subsidy; nothing, in fact, but its rates to depend on. Taking the figures in their balance-sheet, the rates collected for 1879-80 amounted to £137. Their expenditura in salaries, rent, advertising, surveyors, and engineers, amounted to £124, leaving £13 for improvements. Even admitting, if they had nothing but their rates to depend on, that their expenditure would be curtailed considerably, it would still leave them very little for working on. This, then, would be exactly our position with a town board. We have no balance to start with ; we have no reserves from which to draw rents, and no prospect of a Government subsidy. Our rates would nearly all be swallowed up in working expenses, and I doubt very much whether we would have enough to pay for even a few loads of metal.

Mr. Allen wished to ask a question. He thought only ratepayers and householders should be allowed to vote, and he would like to hear the opinion of the meeting on the matter.

The Chairman quite concurred. For the informatinn of the meeting, Mr. Gibson then read over the estimate of receipts and expenditure for the Boroughs of New Plymouth for the year ending 31st March, 1881 : — From licenses : publicans', ; wholesale spirit, .£4O ; auctioneers', £80 ; drivers', £5 ; carters', ; expresses, £\4i ; public rooms, £6 ; billiard-rooms, £4; slaughter-houses, £1Q 10s.; dangeroas goods, £10 ; hawkers', ; total from licenses, .£'46l 10s. ; dog fees, .£6O ; pound fees, £25 ; rents, £112 10s. ; fines, Jls; making a total for the year of £2028 10s. Expenditure: Town clerk)

£150 ; surveyor, £50 ; collector of rates and inspector of nuisances, £100 ; valuators, £45 ; auditors, £10 10s. ; advertising ! and printing, £100; election expenses, £10 ; labor, £500 ; forAge, £75 ; metal, £200; paving, £50; kerbing, £50; gas for streets, £200 ; coupon, £231 ; interest, £100 ; institute, £75 ; fire brigade, £40 ; contingencies, £42 ; making a total of £2028 10s.

The Chairman having again asked for an expression of opinion for or against the proposed amalgamation with Hawera,

Mr. Allen said he was waiting to hearwhether there were any objections ; but as there were none, he would have nothing to say. If there were any objectors, there might be some little discussion ; but as there were not, he would propose the following resolution, — " That this meeting, without pledging itself to adopt any measures that may be recommended, hereby appoint the following gentlemen as a committee, to confer with the committee appointed by the Hawera Town Board, with the view of forming a combined municipality : — Messrs. C. E. Gibson, Charles Quin, Thomas Robson, F. Hunger, and Charles Allen ; the above committee to report to a future meeting of the ratepayers, to be called for that purpose." Mr. Allen pointed out that in a very short time Hawera would be able to have a municipality of its own, and if the people of Normanby did not strike the iron whilst it was hot, they were hardly likely to get the same chance again. Mr. McDowall seconded the motion. ' Mr. Gillespie asked, supposing that the amalgamation took place, would the maintenance of the main road, as far as the Ketemarae Hotel, be withdrawn from the operations of the County Council? If such were the case, it would b&avery serious matter.

The Chairman replied that he thought the road would be withdrawn from the operations of the County Council.

After waiting for some time, the chairman declared the meeting adjourned.