GREATER AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15132, 24 October 1912, Page 9

GREATER AUCKLAND.

ADVOCATED IN P A EL, L.

SPEECH BY MR. C. 3. PARR.

Max?" ratepayers in the borough/of Parnell are of opinion </■ that the borough should be attached to the . city under a Greater Auckland scheme.' At the request of a - deputation representing. the Ratepayers' Association, an address on " Greater Auckland " was given by the Mayor of the city last night, in the Knox Hall. Mr. C. E. Palmer presided, and there were about 150 ratepayers present. ;/ Mr. Parr, who was received with hearty applause, expressed pleasure at being able to talk upon the all-important question of nnion with the city. His mission was now merely educative, and he would. express no opinion upon the local body. Such references would be discourteous. He only wished to point out the foolishness of not uniting Auckland and its suburbs into one municipality, and to dispel some of the misconceptions that existed. His presence did not imply a request from 'the City Council to join the city ; but if Parnell made, a request to join the city, it would receive sympathetic consideration. Mr. Parr said that - the city, with a population of 41,000, a capital value sof nearly £10,000,000, was governed by one local body. The rest of the population of the isthmus, numbering 43,000, was governed by 19 local bodies. , Advantages of Partnership. The last part of Auckland to join the city, 25 years ago, was Ponsonby. Some misguided people still said that it was a great mistake but it was the best thing ponsonby ever' did. It had splendid streets, all channelled and kerbed; the finest library in New Zealand, the best park in the Dominion, paid for by the City Council ; in a fortnight it would have the finest salt water baths' in New Zealand, paid by the City .Council ; it shared in the services of the finest fire brigade in ,New Zealand and all as the result of a '"mistake." "'■'•■''■' "■"■•■.-' Parneli needed a. first-class library and reading-room, salt water baths' on '•■' the beaches, and the best system of fire-prsven-tion available. Why did not ParnelL secure at once Sir John Logan* Campbell's property at Campbell's Point ? If it joined the #ty it would have that park within 12 months. He wished' also to advocate- another outlet for traffic from the lower part of the city. The one he preferred came up St. George's 1 Gully, but whether it was there or not, there should be another road, avoiding the heavy grades of the main road. • * ■/City's Power of Financing, The financing of a borough's requirements could be better managed by a large central body than by a subsidiary one.- In spite of the tightness of the money : market, Auckland could get; all the money it - wanted at 4£- per cent. but; Parnell would be fortunate if it raised any at 5 per cent. In joining Auckland, tho borough would become a ■>. partner of the city without paying a cent, for the privilege. The borough would share in the

city \- water ; supply, in ■, fthc electric light scheme, and- the service of the abattoirs. Parnell would share; in :fhe immense endowments of the city, which were valued at £750,000 on the , city's books, but which he would be quite satisfied to buy for a.million;;. * The Debt and Rates Bogey. Sceptics would mention: the huge debt of the city. It totalled £1,178,000;. butover two-thirds of iit was.; reproductive, paying all interest arid charges and a handsome profit. 'Against-the-debt was, to be placed assets, nominally worth . £1.834,692/1 but probably easily worth 2£ mjJliohß, • ; in; addition to the. goodwill of the city services. Besides this, there was a sinking fund of £170,000. The debt bogey was

only a bogey. Another favourite .argument that was raised against joining the city was that the rates of the borough, would be increased. That was absolutely untrue. Tho arrangement fixed by law was that, ■ the borough and the city would each continue to pay their own "special rates" and a comparison of the general rates was all in favour of union. The following tablo would show the position 'clearly.:—,*.

This meant that by joining the city, if the city decided that Parnell should come under the same.rating, the.Parnell Kites would fall by 4d. In no circnfistances could: they be increased unless the people of Parnell increased them. The water rates 'in the city were a great, deal lower than in Parnell, roughly only half as. high.

A Temporary Ward. ' Mr. Parr said the machinery for joining the city was simple. He would -suggest that the best plan would be or Parnell to remain for a lew years a separate ward of the city, with separate representation. In conclusion, the Mayor said that it was a narrow View alone, that mad© any locality refrain from helping the government of the city where the business of the community centred. Tho town clerk of Auckland (Mr. H. W. Wilson) explained the steps necessary to join a city and a borough. The preliminaries were simply that the ratepayers must send a petition to the local authorities demanding a poll, and signed by 10 per cent. 'of the* ratepayers, and the local authority must take the poll to decide the question^

The Present Loan Proposal. In reply to a question, Mr. Parr said it would make little difference to tho

Parnell rating whether it raised a reading loan before or after joining the city. The special rate alone would be affected. There would bo an advantage in union before the loan was raised, because the city could raise the monev at a comparatively low late, and earmark it for expenditure in the borough. The address was heard with the closest

Attention, the speaker being many times applauded, and the temper of the meeting was evidently strongly in favour of the principle advocated bv him. On the motion of Mr. W. R. Holmes, seconded by Mr. W. Johns, a hearty vote of thanks was passed'to Mr. Parr for his clear and interesting address. Mr. J. Themes then moved: " That in the opinion of this meeting the time has arrived when Parnell should join the city." This was seconded by Mr. 6. B. Osmond, and was carried unanimously, amidst applause.

Auckland. ■ ' Parnoll. Population ... ... 41,045 5.589 Ratable value ... £694.849 £54.438 General rate ... ....... i/1 1/8 Library rat* ... ... id nil Charitable aid rate ... lid lsd Sanitation rate ... 2Jd nil: Drainage rate.... ... .. K Xd IdTotal ordinary ... • 1/65 1/10J Water rates— . ■". . 4 per cent on . valuation. Tip to £100 valuation 2& per cent. Over £100 valuation 2 per cent. Other than dwellings 1 per cent. Non-consumers ... 1 per cent. Per motor ... ... lOdper 1/6 per lOOOgal. lOOOgal. 1/4 over lOO.OOOgal, Public debt ... '- ... £1.178.200 £24.000 Sinking fund ... ... £168,299 £4,387 • Total assets ... ... £1,843,693 £7,127 Net income ... ... £214,000 ,