GREATER AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15167, 5 December 1912, Page 8

GREATER AUCKLAND.

WILL PARNELL JOIN CITY? RATEPAYERS SEEK DATAV HOW THE BOROUGH WOULD BENEFIT.

With the object of obtaining definite information as to this terms upon which'' Parnell would join the city if the poll to be taken in the borough on Monday next should bo favourable to amalgamation, a deputation from the Parnell Ratepayers* ' Association, consisting of Messrs. C. E. Palmer (chairman), G. E. Davis (secretary), W. Johns, R. Harris, and the Rev. J. M. Simpson, waited on the Mayor of Auckland (Mr.- C. J. Parr) yesterday morning. . ** In answer to Mr. Palmer, the Mayoj said he had received no official communication from the Ptirnell Council in connection with the matter. : •

Mr. Palmer said that in view of th* failure of the Mayor and Council of Parnell to carry out their clear duty in the matter, it devolved upon the Ratepayers' Association to obtain the necessary information as to the city's terms if Mr. Par* saw fit to supply it. ' , '.

The other members of the deputation spoke in similar terms, and pointed out that it was necessary to have something tangible to place before the ratepayers prior to the poll.

The Mayor of Auckland, in reply, said he regretted that he was not addressing representatives of the Borough Council. He made it clear that he was not in a . position to make a bargain with the Bate- 4 payers' .Association or any other body of v'| people in Parnell except the Borough i Council. However, he could indicate for , the information of the Parnell ratepayers I the general lines on which the City Conn- : cil was prepared to take in Parnell, '■;%$ '■-/£ well as other bodies. In the event of the ~i poll being successful on Monday, he v would recommend the Council to adopt - the following suggestions •'''''../'

1. That the present Parncll rates in th« total Should not be in any Way increased or raised by the act of union. (As the Parncll rates amounted to 3s 2d, and the City's to about 3a 3d in the £, Mr. Parr said he could guarantee to every ratepayer that his rates would not be increased through amalgamation. The City Council would be prepared : to take Parnell in at its present fating.) 2. All general rates collected in Parnell should be spent in Parnell. 3. The Parnell Borough -would receive its ■'..■■' fair proportion of the surplus income from the city endowments, etc. (Mr. Parr thought that £2000 a year more from this soon* ;■) would bis found by the City for expenditure ; on Parriell's streets.) ,■> /,,.<. 4. By readjustment of the present Parnell rates, without increasing: the total in any way, and by saving the present administration expenses, it would be a simple matter to spend £1500 a year more out of the pre- 'M sent revenue. The net result would be, that ; by union with Jlie City, Parnell wonld be «| £3500 a year better off than at present, with- ; out increasing the present total rates. 5. Should the Parnell Borough wish it, he ; saw no reason why Parnell should not be'K constituted a separate ward, returning it* own members to the Council for a period of ; seven to 10 years. ■* 6. Ijastly, everyone recognised that muni- ij cipal necessities were badly wanted by Parnell, such as good streets, baths, readingroom, and another outlet from the lowei" level of Manuß.au Road (Mr. Parr had no doubt the City Council would, if it were srt'/-' ,; desired, bo prepared to take a poll of .the .'■ ratepayers of Parnell on the question of ;i" borrowing £70,000 for these works within Six % months after amalgamation, and it would rest with the Parnell ratepayers themselves m which of these items they would Vote for.) W ■ ■■■■ ~ .'.-. ■ •■ ' , The Mayor pointed out in conclusion, that the City Council was quite passive, in the matter. It'was for the people 6!' Parnell to say whether they would/joinV the city or not. Amalgamation would . mean a certain financial loss to the city, \ If the Parnell ratepayers threw out -the proposal for amalgamation at the coming poll, the question would be shelved for two years. At that time he (Mr. Parr)' would certainly not bo Mayor of Auck-,' land, and his successor might not favour 1 such a concession on the city's part without a quid pro quo. ' '"'£'%^" ! The deputation thanked the Mayor for " his clear statement of the position and [ withdrew. » \ ;t The Parnell Ratepayers' Association .'hasp' convened a meeting to be held in Knox , Church to-morrow evening, to discuss the amalgamation question. An opportunity will be given .to ratepayers to express their views either for or against , the pro- % posal. . ,