KAMO TOWN DISTRICT COMMISSION

Northern Advocate, 29 August 1928, Page 8

KAMO TOWN DISTRICT COMMISSION

SITTING HELD YESTERDAY,

DECISION TO BE FORWARDED TO CROWN.

The commission appointed to inquire into the proposed alteration of boundaries of the Kamo Town District met in Wakelin’s Hall, Kamo, yesterday morning, the personnel consisting of Mr 0. N. Campbell, Commissioner of Crown Landis (chairman), and Mr A. F. Blackburn. Messrs Harrison and Carruth acted as counsel for the defence. After taking the evidence the meeting concluded. The commissioners will forward their decision to the Crown. Mr St. Clair Jouimeaux stated that the area which it was proposed to divide off from the Kamo Town district was not suitable for residential sections.' Taxes had been trebled under the administration of the Kamo Town Board.

Mr Harrison for the board said that the difference in rates between the County Council and Town Board w6u3d affect Mr Jounneaux’s property to the extent of £1 4s a year. Mr Jouimeaux maintained, however, that Kamo would grow in the future and rates would rise accordingly. He did not consider that the land obtained any value from being situated near Kamo.

Counsel: Your objection, in short, is anticipation of what may happen in the future? —Yes, practically. Mr E. Abrahams was then called, and he said that as Kamo would grow some day, water and drainage systems which w-ould not affect the petitioners would be required. Drainage would be of no use at all to them, and yet they would pay rates for it. The land was unsuitable for building purposes, and there was no inducement to subdivide. Under dual control his rates had been £2O, and now they had risen to £2l, which was rather excessive on 52 acres. Counsel: I am informed by the Town Clerk that the rates were s£d and that this year they would be only 4 19-32 d. Can you explain this statement? It was the future, said witness, that was worrying him. He did little business in Kamo, and considered it of no use to him at all. It did not. add any value to his land. Mr J, J, Taylor, another petitioner to the separation, stated that the land was purely and simply a farming area and would never become residential. Small poultry farms and vegetable gardens might be established in that locality. Only one new house had been built in 40 years. Several had- been demolished and rebuilt, but actually only one new residence had been built. K£e considered himself to be absolutely independent of Kamo, and lie had no intention of subdividing his property.

In reply to a question, "witness stated that his land carried on an average -one beast to two -acres.

Cross-examined, witness was asked if -he recognised that the electric lighting had been given by the Kamo Town Board, but he maintained that it had been provided by the County Council.

Counsel affirmed that it was the Town Board that had given the light. . “Evidently you have a poor opinion of Kamo," said counsel. “I have," replied witness. Further cross-examined, witness, stated that his land was worth £4O an acre, and he did not consider that Kamo was responsible for -the._,value. “If the land was in the back-blocks, do you think that the value would be the same?" -asked counsel. “I don't think it makrs any difference,’ 1 said witness. '

Questioned whether he tliought any one supplied milk or vegetables to Kamo, be stated that he did not thinlc so. He w’.as not dissatisfied with the rates, ,

Counsel: If the County Council rates are the same as those of Kamo, what is the abject of division?—Kamo will advance in the future.

The present administration, witness added, was satisfactory, but the future was in doubt.

Mr Harrison stated that the Kama Towm Board’s objection to the proposed alteration was the fact that it would reduce the finances of the -Board. If the proposed area were separated the district would lose a population af 53, and the subtraction of these numbers would bring the. population perilously near 500, and it might be necessary to revert to dual control again. Only if there were a population of over 500 could a town board exist. It was not generally known that there w'as a difference of only 11/32d between the rates of the County and the Towm Board. The whole matter, was trivial. He was under the impression that there was a tendency to enlarge rather than decrease the size of cities and towns and include agricultural areas. On the face of it there might appear to be some inequality, but the matter had been dealt with by the Valuation Department and all points considered. With regard to Mr Taylor’s valuation of £4O an acre, it was rather excessive for an agricultural area, and there, was some suburban value, attached. |

Mr J. H. Reich, clerk to the Kamo

Town Board, said that the last rate in the town had been 4 10/32d, unimproved value, on those who had the electric light. There was no scheme at present to raise any other loans. There had been a period of stagna - tion, but during the past few years there had been marked progress. The Whangarei Borough Council had been approached with the object of obtainifag lighting for the town. A loan of £2700 had been raised for reticulating the area, and later residents in the Springs area had wished to be supplied, and though they had tried to

dissuade them from obtaining it, it had boon supplied. At present the rate was not the full rate by which the loan was secured. The profits wont towards the reduction of the loan rate. While there was a sinking fund the lighting system could not be called a commercial proposition, but it was paying as such. Since severance from the county some money had been spent on the northern area roads. No drainage schemes had been discussed, and it was not proposed to link the water supply with Whangarei. There was no question of joining with Whangarei, The lower portion of the town was not attached when Kamo was first constituted a town district. There was a possibility of Kamo becoming a mining centre again, but. as far as building was concerned he considered it would be on the hill. Mr P. E. Gardner, a mdmbor of the Kamo Town Board, endorsed Mr Reich’s opinions, and said that comparatively the rates wore low. In supplying the lighting, however, Mr Gardner stated that the Whangaroi Borough Council was making a profit of 400 per cent., charging the Whangarei consumers a little over one penny a unit, while the Kamo residents paid 7d a unit. (Inquiry from Mr W. J. Dawson, Borough Electrical Engineer, however, elicited the fact that the Kamo consumers were paying sid per unit for lighting and 2d per unit for power.) Mr Gardner’s statements concluded the evidence and the commission rose at 12.45 p.m.