FORMATION OF BOROUGH

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 843, 11 December 1929, Page 6

FORMATION OF BOROUGH

ONE TREE HILL BOARD SEEKS NEW STATUS COMMISSION SITS TOMORROW To consider the proposal to constitute the One Tree Hill Road District a borough, the commission which has been appointed will commence its sittings tomorrow. The commission comprises Mr. J. G. L. Hewitt, S.M., chairman; Mr. O. N. Campbell. Commissioner of Crown Lands for North Auckland; and Mr. W. G. McClintock, district valuer, Auckland. Evidence on behalf of the board will be given by Messrs. R. G. Clark, I. J. Goldstone and W. G. Mulholland, members, and Mr. A. Leese, clerk. The ratepayers rejected the proposal to constitute a borough when it was first originated in 1923. The board contends that the ratepayers thought it would mean increased rates. The board argues that the by-laws of a road board are not extensive enough and cites the following anomalies:—For a special meeting of the board seven days’ notice is required, whereas a borough council requires but two .days’ notice. An extraordinary vacancy must be filled even when it occurs prior to biennial elections necessitating additional expense. In the case of a borough if the vacancy occurs within six months of an election it need not be filled. The speed-limit in a road district is limited to 25 miles an hour, whereas in a borough it is 35 miles an hour. Ratepayers whose rates are in arrears may not vote at an election or poll. Thus if an election occurs more than 14 days after the issue of the demands practically all the ratepayers, are automatically disfranchised. At the same time defaulting ratepayers may be elected members of the board. Only ratepayers may vote in an election of members of the Auckland Electric-Power Board or the Auckland Transport Board, whereas in a borough all electors may vote. In 1895 the rateable capital valuation of One Tree Hill district was £167,000, in 1922, £1,896,000, and in 1929, £2,800,00. The annual revenue for the same years was £394, £21,305 and £35,000. The number of rateable properties for the same periods were ISO, 1,200 and 2,700. The present population of the district is between 7,500 and 8,000.

The board states that as there are no further prospects of obtaining, as a road board, assistance from the Main Highways Board, there would be no disadvantage in that respect in becoming a borough. The board estimates that as a borough it would derive £I,OOO a from participation m the petrol-tax distribution.