GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 14324, 29 September 1910, Page 4

GREATER NEW PLYMOUTH.

MEETING AT FITZROY. STRONG OPPOSITION. Between seventy and eighty electors oi the Fitzroy Town District gathered in the Fitzroy Hall last night to hear an address by Mr. G. Tisch, Mayor of New Plymouth, on the questions of amalgamation with the Borough of New Plymouth and the proposed electric tramways, and to discuss tho subjects. There were many ladies present. Mr. L. Steele, chairman of the Fitzroy Town Board, was voted to the chair. After expressing his pleasure at having the opportunity to meet the Fitzroy ratepayers, ahcl thanking them for their cordial reception, Mr. Tisch pointed out that the electric tramways proposal was most important to Fitzroy and the other suburbs, as well as to New -Plymouth. Tor some time.,the question whether the tramways should bo under the control of the municipality or under the control of a tramways board had been discussed, and the citizens’ committee had decided in favour of municipal control. This had been endorsed by a recent meeting of ratepayers of New Plymouth, so the question might be taken as practically settled. Mr. Tisch detailed the steps that had been taken with regard to having export opinion, a report from Mr. F. Black, of Wellington, having been obtained. The scheme proposed a line from Fitzroy to tho Now Plymouth railway station, thence along St. Aubyn Street and the South Road to Mcturoa, at an approximate cost of £40,000. Tho citizens’ committee, in considering tho question before Mr. Black was asked tor his opinions, had obtained a lot of information on tho subject, and it was rather remarkable that tho committee’s estimate was very close to the expert’s figures. Ho was in thorough accord with tho route advocatd by Mr. Black, although there might bo ono or two small details not allowed for. He had every confidence in recommending the scheme to the ratepayers, for every place ho had visited, both in New Zealand and in the Old World, whore electric trams had been installed had gone ahead by leaps and bounds as a result ,of these installations. He had always advocated New Pymouth and district' as ono of the* best - places in the Dominion for retired business men to live in, and had tried to make the place attractive to outsiders. But to attract people to -reside -in the town they must give them the same 1 facilities as existed in other places. It. was estimated that for the first year of tho working of-tlm trams, there might be a slight loss of £300: or £4OO, but there would be good assets against that, and tho loss' might almost disappear, Mr. Tisch instanced tho success of the Wanganui tramways. There was, however, A GREAT POSSIBILITY in the town that the scheme would not bo carried unless Fitzroy took its share of the responsibility. Tho trams would greatly benefit the suburbs and enhance the value of property by fully 30 per cent. But some of the borough ratepayers asked why they should, borrow •£40,000, in ■ addition to the present loans, to carry out a scheme that would principally boliefit the suburbs, unless tho suourbau people took a share of the responsibility. It was only fair and reasonable that the suburbs should take such a share. All the Fitzroy people ho had spoken to-had expressed a desire to take a share of tho burden, but he could not see how they SJ could do that except by moans of a Greater New Plymouth; if the trams wore to bo under municipal control. Of course, his hearers would like to know what other advantages wore to be gained by joining the borough. He had obtained from Mr. Footo a copy of the Fitzroy rate-roll, showing tho valuations of each ratepayer in the district, and tho rates paid. Mr. F. T. Bellringer, town clerk of New Plymouth, had added the amount of rates that would be paid by each ratepayer if Fitzroy joined the borough. In every case there was a gain to tho Fitzroy ratepayers of fully SO per cent. He had not shown this roll, to more than a dozen people, considering it was not right that the roll should bo shown about, but if any ratepayer in the hall would like to see or hear what difference there would bo in his rates ho (Mr. Tisch) would bo glad to show him. Tho’ roll contained about 240 names. Mr. B. Griffiths suggested that Mr. Tisch should give a few of tho entries. ADVANTAGE IN RATES. Mr. Tisch then gave the figures shown in several instances, taken alphabetically. These wore;—Fitzroy rate £27 17s, borough.rate £l4, saving over £l3; Fitzroy rate £7 12s, borough rate £3 18s; Fitzroy rate £l3 Is 7d, borough rate £6 15s; and so oh. Continuing, Air. Tisch pointed out that'the water rates outside the borough amounted to Is 4d. If the Fitzroy people came into tho borough they would pay only 6d, a saving of 60 per cent. The figures ho had previously given showed only tho general rates on land, other than the special rates paid in the borough with respect to loans, which the Fitzroy people would not bo liable to pay. Ho had obtained, the opinion of Mr. T. F. Martin, solicitor to the Municipal Association, on this question. Air. Martin had advised that any now area added to the borough would not bo liable for tho special rates already levied in tho borough. At any subsequent poll to raise a new .loan or pay off tho old ones, however, it was competent for tho ratepayers to make a special rate over the whole of the borough. Tho borough solicitors, Alossrs. Govett and Quilliam, had endorsed Air. Alartin’s opinion, and pointed out that section 128 of the Alunicipal Corporations Act made the position quite, clear. Tho borough loans carrying special rates would mature in 1922, so that the outside districts, if they joined the borough, would not bo liable for those special rates for at least twelve years. Then, again,'another advantage of amalgamating was direct representation on the Borough Council and a voice in the extension of water mains and electric light. The Fitzroy Town District could come in.as a ward of the borough. The Alunicipal Corporations Act provided for five wards or under. There were now three wards, so that two more could be added without any readjustment of the existing wards. At present, if a Fitzroy resident desired to connect with the water service he had to make the connection at his own expense, which would not be if he were in the borough. It was the same with the electric light. Another thing to bo considered was the free use of water for fire prevention purposes, which brought about a reduction in insurance charges. A short time ago tho Firo Board asked the Borough Council for the "terms on which water for fire-fighting would bo extended to tho suburban districts. The committee to which the matter had been referred had not submitted a report yet. In tho meantime Fitzroy got that water free, but the borough could not reasonably

bo expected to supply water free to other local‘’bodies. Mr. Tiscli pointed out that tho Borough Council had an up-to-dato crusher and traction engine, and about 70 acres of metal, a most valuable asset. Then there were the Stratford leases, from which a larger revenue would bo derived before long, and Fitzroy would join in these advantages. Tho cost of administration of a Greater New Plymouth need not bo greater than; at present. Merging would also give the whole district a much better standing. New Plymouth was at present ono of the smallest areas in New Zealand, and so. long as it remained small it was ' NOT LIKELY TO PROGRESS much. The raising of its status would havo a very beneficial effect. It might bo said that joining New - Plymouth would bo like joining a water-logged ship, that Now Plymouth was overloaded with loans. But ho would point out that there had been no increase of rates in tho borough ■ since 1901, although several loans had been raised since then. In spite of the critics, lie considered the borough was in a very good financial position. Tho borough hud always, paid its way. • Air." Tisoh then instanced now works, approximating in cost £4OOO, which had been carried out in the past two years out of ordinary revenue, in addition to the general maintenance of roads, etc. At tho ond of the last financial year the council had a credit balance of about £67, while in the previous year it had a debit balance of only about £167. Had the Borough Council been content to carry on as in tho past, without expending money, on all this extra concrete channelling, now. metalling, the construction of a by-pass at the reservoir, tho purchase of dhb old trailway lino, the putting down of a mile' of sowers, etc., there would have been much more money for the streets, and probably better streets. But, still, the streets wore in very good order, Tho electric light loan had not cost tho ratepayers a penny, and he looked forward to an early reduction in the rates charged to the consumers in the borough. The Fitzroy pcoplo might say that the road just across tho Hcuui was not in very good order. That work had been authorised,: but it had been delayed by tho necessity to widen the road by which they had to bring out tho metal. In ordinary circumstances Devon Street from Cambridge House' to tho Henui would have been done. While on tho question of roads, Mr. Tisch also emphasised that if the Borough. Council had carried on the old policy, without progress, the roads might have . been as good as anywhere else; They had had ample money, but had chosen to spend it on other works. The borough was not such a sinking ship as some pcoplo thought. With regard to the loans maturing in 1922, Mr; Tisch pointed out that ono was tho waterworks loan of £52,000. The waterworks were amongst the best in New Zealand, and a most valuable, asset. Then there was the electric light loan of £27,000. The electric light was not costing the ratepayers ' a shilling, but was a .very paying concern. The drainage loan also paid for itself. Altogether. of tho £131,000 borrowed by tho borough, £102,000 was earning interest and was reproductive. Mr. Tisch also pointed out that the impression hold by some people, that persons not using tho water supply would have to pay halt ‘rates, ivas wrong- No rates wore charged at all in such cases. Concluding, Mr. Tisch remarked that when lie was elected Mayor he said lid would meet the various local bodies with a view to a Greater New 'Plymouth; It was in consequence of that that he was now meeting the Fitzroy ratepayers. If the Fitzroy people decided to join tho borough they would need to havo » requisition signed by. 25 per'cent, of the ratepayers. By joining they would share in all tho municipal facilities without paying the special rates for the use of them; and they would facilitate the introduction of tho trams, which were bound to do so much for both the borough and the suburbs.—(Applause.) He would_ be very pleased to answer any questions. THE OPPOSITION. I mine diatcly on Mr. Tisch resuming his seat, Mr. C. F. Foote (clerk to the Fitzroy ..Town Board) jumped to his feet with a resolution “That as the Fitzroy Town District has been so well managed in tho past it would be very imprudent to join the borough, and that wc icmain tis we are.” This was seconded by Mr. R. Old.' In speaking to his motion, Mr. Foote said that Mr. Tisch had told them Now Plymouth was a fine place, but he had not told them how much New .Plymouth had grown in tho past twenty years; what loans it had twenty years ago, and what loans it had now. For Fitzroy to join New Plymouth would bo like going into partnership in a concern'that had .very bad stock, for New Plymouth had very bad stock in' its roads, bridges, and footpaths. The Vogeltown and St. Aubyn people had refused, to join the borough, but perhaps Mr. Tisch thought he had a softer thing on at Fitzroy. Mr. Tisoh had pointed to tho fact that there had been no increase of rates in the borough since 1901. In Fitzroy them had been no increase of rates since 1885. Mr. E. Griffiths: Can you make them any higher? Mr. Foote: No. —(Laughter). Wc havo gone as far as wo can go, hut Mr. Tisch lias not said how far they can go. Continuing, Mr. Footo quoted figures allowing the growth of Fitzroy. In 1885 the value of tho district was £23,933.- In 1900 the value was £60,655, and tho rates collected £lB9. In 1910 the value was £124,288, and the .revenue £776. It had been a good movo when Fitzroy loft the county, for now their rates were spent in their own district. Fitzroy had paid hospital rate, fire brigade subsidy, purchase of old railway line, repairs at Waiwakaiho Bridge, all out of ordinary revenue; and there were liabilities for Man.gorei Road improvement, share of .purchase,' 1 of land for widening the abattoir road, and other things to bo met in,the same way. The worst street in the town district was a borough street, from the two stores to the abattoirs.—(Hear, hear.) Tho other streets were in excellent order. He (Mr. Foote) quoted Councillors Dockrill, Bellringer, and Wilson, the Daily-News and the Taranaki Herald (which he accused of blowing hot and cold) in criticism of the borough finances. He ridiculed the idea that tho Borough Council would give Fitzroy"people a water supply for payment of a rate of 6d in the £ whilst tho borough paid 6d and a lOd special rate as well, and characterised the council as a set of “Shylocks” for exacting the present charge. According to report, the Borough Council had “cribbed” credits of one department and applied them to another. If Fitzroy Ward had a credit balance, what was to prevent the West Ward from annexing it if they happened to want the money P , Mr. Tisch explained tho reference to tho water charges that, by the Municipal Corporations Act, the pcoplo joining tho borough now could not bo charged the special rate already made. He also pointed out that ho was not advocating tho amalgamation, but only

explaining tho effect it would have if effected. Tho Chairman asked what would bo tile position of the Fitzroy people in 1922-. A Voice: You’ll be buried by that time. • Air. Tisch said ho was not prepared to say what would happen then. ■ The Chairman said Fitzroy would probably be saddled with the loans and, have to pay for them. A voice: Oh, we’ll stop out. Tho Chairman could not see why the New Plymouth Borough Council could not go on with the tram scheme on its own account. The trams .would pay, and the suburbs would make them pay, for the Fitzroy and St. Aubyn people would pay twenty times as much in faros as tho borough residents. Air. Tisoh said there was a strong feeling in New Plymouth that the people would not saddle themselves with a loan of £40,000 unless the suburbs would share in tife'.responsibility. The Chairman; We will take our share of tho losses provided wo get our share of the profits.—(Hoar, hear.), Ho contended that the borough roads could 'not bo compared; with Fitzrpy’s. The only road in the town district which was under the control of the Borough Council was the Clomow Road, and it was a disgrace. People wouldn’t let their hens run on it' in case they scratched the metal off it.—(Laughter.) Air. Old: I’d like to know if wo got Ben Tippins chucked in with the deal.— (Laughter.) . ■ Air. Griffiths asked if the proposed Fitzroy loan, of £SOOO or £6ooo’ for street improvements and for the town hall could bo raised in the event of Fitzroy joining New Plymouth. Air. Tisch answered that tho ward could raise a loan for expenditure within its own boundaries. Air. Jackson suggested that-the Borough Council might raise its general rate to 5s in the £, lower, the special rate (for which Fitzroy would not ho liable), and got at Fitzroy in that way. Air. Tisch: I am not accustomed to tricks. —(Applause.) I don’t practise them. , , , Mr. F. T. Bellringer pointed put that the limit was 2s on tho annual valueand lid on the capital value, as m Fitzroy. THE PROPOSAL SUPPORTED. Air. B. Griffiths considered the ratepayers should bo grateful to Air. Tisch for placing the matter before them. Ho had dealt with tho matter fairly. It had been said tho other day that Mr. Tisrh was the best Alayor Now llymonth ever had; and ho personally hoped ho would be Alayor for many years to come. Air. Griffiths congratulated tho old Hcuui Road Board and the Fitzrov. Town Board on the work done in Fitzroy,- but said there was no doubt they were fully paying for it. He saw ho reason why the roads here should not be kept, in as good order if 11T the borough as now. As regards Devon Street from Cambridge House to the' Henui, ho thought tho ' borough should not he blamed merely because the work bad been delayed. The, roads in the borough in a groat many cases wore excellent, . If the rates-wore doubled, as they had been here, they would bo able to asphalt almost every street in town.—(A voice, sarcastically: No, tar thorn.) The payment of half rates was a big consideration. One, point ho wanted to make clear was that of the £131,000 loans in the'borough, over £100,090 was earning a higher rate of interest than was charged for tho money, so the borough ' was merely “going guarantee” for the money; and the earnings of the abattoirs and other institutions were paying tho interest. Loans spent on -streets and bridges were not interest-bearing, and for these -a special rate had to bo levied. It was quite possible that the Fitzroy Ward would be made liable for payment of interest on loan conversions after; 1922, but the only non-productive loans now in the borough were £30,000. If the Fitzroy loan of £SOOO wpreraised they-would saddle New Plymouth with that in the amalgamation. The valuation of the borough was over ten .times as great as that of Fitzroy, whilst it. was proposed to saddle them with far more than a tenth and proper share of non-producing loans. He emphasised that trams inado the suburbs. Ho thought Fitzroy should amalgamate with t(ic borough, to facilitate the tramways scheme. Air. Griffiths read a letter from Air. H. Dempsey in support of tho Greater Now -Plymouth scheme,, pointing out that Fitzroy people wore mostly interested in the success of New Plymouth from the fact that they had their businesses there._ 'Continuing, Mr. Griffiths said that this seemed to bo a time when all should null together for > tho general good, ana he hoped they would do so, form a Greater Now Plymouth, and facilitate the tramways scheme. He moved an amendment that a memorial bo signed to give effect to the proposal. Air,- Footo objected that the amendment was a direct negative to his motion, and therefore out of order, but the’chairman ruled, against hiiii. , • Air. Stanley Smith seconded the amendment, and urged that tho sub-' jeot should be given very careful consideration. The enlargement of New Plymouth by the absorption of the, suburbs would he of very great benefit to the whole of the district. In further discussion Air. Griffiths pointed out that unless Fitzroy joined tho borough there 1 was, ho regretted to say, very little chance of tho trams coming. With Fitzroy' in 1 tho borough there would bo a block vote of 500 in favour of the trams.

Air. 0. Johnson considered it unnecessary to take a vote that night, as it was only a preliminary meeting. Ho had come with a view of gaining information on which to ponder before arriving at a decision. He favoured sotting up a committee to consider tho matter. Mr. Footo: I don’t intend to withdraw my motion. If we’ve got any brains about ns, and we expect a schoolmaster of all men to, liavcflsome, we will go on with the business to-night. Air. Johnson objected to this, and Air. Foote then withdrew the personal reference. Air. TV. Outfield said lie did not think, whatever decision the meeting came to, that it would settle the question. The discussion then became a little lively. Air. Kibby asked for information, as to whether both a ratepayer and his wife could vote on the question. Air. Footo then excitedly replied “I’m not here to be made a target of.” , It was explained that tho requisition had to be signed by 25 per cent, of the electors, not of the ratepayers, as previously announced. Air. Foote presently got up to “reply” on his motion. In the course of this be demanded to know “what tho hang” they cared about how Now Plymouth stolid outside. Those who had the interests of Fitzroy at heart would vote for the proposition and send Fitzroy. ahead on its own account, without the aid of New Plymouth. Air. Kibby considered that- people might vote the other way , and ho just as anxious for Fitzroy’s progress as Air. Footo was. Air. Griffiths’ amendment was lost by 40 votes to 24. In the counting Air. L. A. Nolan, who acted as scrutineer, found that some people against tho

amendment were putting both hands in the-air, and some youths .were votiug--1 Air.,A. W. Wood then proposed, and Air. Kibby seconded, a further amendment, that two petitions be sent round tho district, one asking for amalgamation and the other against. _ The voting on this prpved to be 26 for and 26 against. . . Air. Foote (to the chairman): Give your casting vote against it._ , The chairman, followed this advice, and so tho amendment was lost. Mr. Kibby then tried to put another amendment’that a petition in favour of amalgamation be circulated. . , , A Voice; Drop tho duck and lot’sgot out. : For a few minutes there was some noise, and then the chairman..put Mr. Foote’s motion-to the meeting. 1 This was carried by 45 to 16, Air. Kibby protesting that some , people voting-for At were neither old: enough nor otherwise qualified to vote. ; The Chairman said tho exception should have been taken earlier. Votes of- thanks to Air. Tisch and. to the chairman ended the meeting.