GREY LYNN AND CITY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15594, 28 April 1914, Page 8

GREY LYNN AND CITY

PROPOSED AMALGAMATE

BOROUGH COUNCIL'S ATl||

MAYOR OF AUCKLAND

Ingestion of the proposed rite . lion Grey Lynn with the city «?? cussed by the Mayor of Auckland "' J. Parr) yesterday in the coatiß J Cl terview. e 01 *■> in.

I "The funny thing at Grey Lynn „ Mr. Parr, "is that the only person,' .« ing the Greater Auckland' %£** members of the Borough Council ",. 4Te strange to say, itself ordered the' J] the question of amalgamation lJ°V* Baildon and his colleagues are acting Ti" part of the cold-hearted stepfather to 8 poll, which they fixed without tC** ot anyone. »st ''What was the poll ordered for v. , continued. Certainly not to nJ! I h » .Movement for Greater Auckland 6 - tfe Lie same day the Borough r„„' •, ° n f'e citizens of the distri to " n Joan of £100,000 for the BorLtff » to spend. Can it be that theft?*? Council is 0 peneioM that, feeling Greater Auckland would b 3 wants to give the City Council A & i to spend before handing ov r V?' 000 that shows a deficiency of C ° nCei * liabilities of £59.000. If so thltf CVer as:" ■' w'.^'sat " Y .fV,' proceeded the Mayor, «»v 6 are all Greater Aucklanders! "i Lft tempt to account for the hitter £•* to union now hem. displayed £% Borough Council. I do trust 1,« tha that the. ratepayers will not sJalfc' of the extraordinary fibres give °*** Grey Lynn Mayor and Ins colleague/ 3 i near.y every caso the figures are 1 la This I shall clearly demons S ■ meeting in St. Cnlumba Hall. Her„ sample: Mr. Baildon said that 'Mr it referred frequently to Grev Lvnn'.' draft of £9000. but did not mffi/fi the city had an overdraft of £17wr 1912.' -This aJdjK,? I "is absolutely incorrect. it the rl i mentioned the city had in the .bank tnii! I credit on various accounts '£70640 aiil its district fund account was in'credits the extent of £47.535. Not only wasiw no city overdraft, but there was also! magnificent, credit balance in all accounts' "Another Borough Council municipal financier, said that joining tho'wtv would mean a contribution of £700 i year to the Fire j>oard, which would ba a dead loss. This gentleman forgot to mention that his own fire service-** apology for one when compared with that of the city— cost over £200 a year. Ha forgot also to mention the interest on tin expenditure of £1500, and, most import ant of all, our critic failed to take into account that there, would be a reduction of insurance premiums in the borough of from 8 to 10 per cent, through the link. ing up of the district with the city." ■•' Continuing, the Mayor said another of Mr. Baildon's errors was the assertion that the city made £30,000 profit on. its water business. As a matter of fact tie profit was only about £18,000. "It, Grey Lynn Council,' he added, "has quite' failed to meet three main arguments in favour of the union. First, that the borough finances are in a far from satiifactory position, and the council's policy is one of drift. Secondly, that Grey Ira can come into partnership with the strongest municipality in New Zealand with a million and a-half of surplus asseta over all liabilities, and is not called upon to pay a penny for this privilege. Lastly, instead of an increase in rates, for eeven years the Grey Lynn ratepayers will be rated lower than he is to-day.

"Is there a business man in this'community," said Mr. Parr, "who would ay that Grey Lynn is not receiving an excellent offer, "which it would bo taalioiglt of folly to reject?" .'.'-". In conclusion, the Major said some misapprehension prevailed in regard to tie poll which has been fixed for to-morroir. Statements had been mad 6 that circulars and other pointed matter in support of uinon could not be distributed in the borough for three days before the poll. This statement was quite wrong. The law was quite clear on the .subject. Anything in the way of circulars or other printed matter might be distributed in theborodgh up to and including the day of the poll, except a mock lot-paper, setting out tie proposals, with instructions how to Tole. Further, the law was quite clear that canvassing might be indulged in tip to the day of the poll.