REMUERA DISTRICT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17112, 18 March 1919, Page 8

REMUERA DISTRICT.

CITY'S ADMINISTRATION. PAST NEGLECT ALLEGED. STATEMENT BY MR. PAKE. Tho Auckland City Council's administration of the Remuera district,] par kularly What he termed the "past neglect and future obligations," was discusseJ Mr. C. J. Parr, M.P., who was Mayor of Auckland when Remuera was incorporated with the city, and who is also a Remuera ratepayer. Mr. Parr sal , Mayor fails to realise tho feeling 0 Kemuera ratepayers, which is one of intense dissatisfaction «ith city management, lb main complaint refers to the neglect of the Remuera streets by the present Mayor and council. While the war raged, lio one expected a large amount in new road works? but we feel that our district was at least entitled to have its streets maintained in ordinary repair. Remuera hat the worst streets in the cit>. •" as their condition was under the old road ! uoard, many thoroughfares lave fared I worse under tho city. Some streets arc I worn' to the cobblestone foundations, j while wo have numerous footpaths which i have received no attention for four yearsThe main Remuera Road is a scandal._ city administration has been even too inert to keep the Tramway Company, whicli is bound to maintain in good order the central part, up to the mark, and every motorist will agree that this is in a wretched state. " Mr. Gunson gives large figures of ex penditure. Unfortunately, the road ex penditure was largely in works of whicl the ratepayers did not approve. Again these figures tell only half the tale, Wba' about tho income contributed by Remuerz ito the city treasury? During Mr. Gun ! son's regime our rates have been Iwice in , cieased, and valuations havo also beei | raised in a wholesalo fashion. To-day tbi I city is getting thousrr.ds of pounds mor< I in revenue from Remuera than the Roac Board evei did. I invito the city to givi the figures of the present rate income Iron Kemuera, a matter on which Mr. Gunsoi ' has been hitherto significantly silent. " Such has been the past, what of th' ' I future ? At the ratepayers' meeting las ' • week I stated that within one year fror i ! the end of the war the City Council wa ' bound to tako a poll for a loan for roa< construction in Remuera, tho interest oi ( which the city had to provide. 'Die nex ' day the Mayor accused me of misleadinj the public, and said that the council c ! 1915 had only a mere intention to tak such a poll. ' Not only d-d that counci have the intention, but prior to the po for union expressed its intention in clear and unmistakoable offer to th Remuora Road Board and electors. In th Herald of February 18, 1015, the term of union are clearly set forth Paragrap 5 reads as follows: —' Within one yea i after the termination of tho war a po j shall be taken for a loan for roads cor [ ' 6truction throughout the Remuera district tho interest for the same to be found b the united city.' Beyond any doubt the? terms formed the basis of the union. Th \ City Council is morally and legally boun to take this poll. It means, if carried, a expenditure of about £100,000 on ou streets. Remuera ratepayers want a plai declaration from the Mayor as to whe the council, now that, the war is ove: intends to take this poU. "Many ratepayers think Remuera wi unwise to join the city," concluded M Parr. "I do not think so. Everythir depends, however, on the city houourabl keeping its official contract. If this done, all will be well."