Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

12 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

PROPOSED INCORPORATION OF…

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

PROPOSED INCORPORATION OF LLANDUDNO. PUBLIC MEETING OF RATEPAYERS. BALLOT TO BE TAKEN. A well attended public meeting of ratepayers jtv&s held at the Town Hall, Llandud- yoGtsrdiy week, for the purpose of consider- ing the advisability of petitioning his Majesty the King to grant a charter for the incorpora- tion of Llandudno. Mr Samuel Chantrey (chairman of the Llan- dudno Urban District Council) presided, and was supported on the platform by Councillors E. E. Bone, James McMaster, T. Smith, J. It. Dawson, and Mr Alf. Conolly (clerk of the Ur- ban District Council). HISTORY OF THE MOVEMENT. The Chairman, after referring to the object of the meeting, hoped that all present had oome to the meeting with a.n unbiassed mind. The Llandudno Council were not trying to rush the matter, but were anxious to test the feeling of the ratepayers, and carry out their wishes. Personally, he had an open mind on the question, and had oome to the meeting to hear both sides (cheers). The subject was first brought forward in 1893, when the clerk prepared a report on the matter. In December, 1901, Mr Garic Ro- berts, who was a member of the Council, brought the matter before the Council, and was seconded by Councillor T. W. Griffith. The matter was referred to a committee, a.nd upon their recom- mendation a public meeting was called, but as Mr D. Garic Roberts was not present the mat- ter fell through. In December, 1903, Mr Mc- Master brought the question up again, but cer- tain matters concerning the overlapping of the boundaries with Conway came up, so the matter was referred to the Works Committee. In 1905 Mr Marks rose the subject, but with- drew it, to be brought forward again at the present time (applause). Councillor James Marks said incorporation as admitted to be the highest form of civic government. If that system of Government was adopted by all towns which had the necessary population incorporation must be considered of la higher status than an Urban District Council. Urban District Council and such forms of gov- ernment were always changing, but boroughs always had, and always would, maintain their high status'. One of the advantages of incor- poration was the possession of a Mayor, ana he contended that more dignity attached to tho edition of Mayor than to that of chairman of an roan District Council.. 'A borough was ocmaklered more important, IImJdI had more effect in dealing with other inuni- fcripal authorities and Government bodies than a town managed by an Urban District Coun- cil -As an Urban District Council they were Daly ane of the "rook" in dealing with the County Council, but when they became a Cor- tiheir status was improved, and they were treated with respect- When an Act of Parliament was passed a copy was sent to the clerk of every Corporation, but aithioiigii ur- ban District Councils had applied for that pri- vilege it had been denied them—a sign of the ;a. itJifferemoe with which the Government rogardeid fe borough as oompard with an Urban District Council A Town Council had the power to tnake bye-laws for the regulation of street trading and street betting, which were at pre- sent made for them by the County Council- The two dhief points on which the oontro- versy revolved were the r&tos and the auditing of aoooumts- A good deal of harmful talk had been circulated about the cxtravaganoe Off Town Councils, and it was alleged' that the rateg of Ibe town would increase by incorporation- 1 h (Town Clerk of Douglas had taken the oppor- tunity of enquiring whether incorporation did increase the rates, and the answers of a num- ber of boroughs had been almost unanimous m ifche negative. The expenses of maintaining the town would be slightly greater than it was, but they would have a larger basis for taxa- tion. Tb&> railway lines at present had only to say one quarter of the taxes, whilst if they became incorporated they would have to pay the full amount for the benefit of the borough rate ^applause). Then again a borough with 10,000 inhabitants was allowed to control its own ole- mentary education, whilst to enjoy the same (privilege a town under an Urban District Coun- cil mupt possess a population of 20,000- In England and Wales there were over 400 bor- oughs, wfuo. if they desired, oould have a Government Auditor in addition to their elective auditors, but out of that 400 only three bad cboeen tihe eervioes of a Looal Government auditor. One advantage of elective auditing that it W;a8 made half-yearly, not eight months after the Council's accounts had been dLoped, and the two audifcois would be Selected by the people on St. Davids Day. The (question was, "Is Llandudjno ripe for inoorpo- ration ?" Within neoemt yeacs 60 borougiiB had beoome inoarpora-ted, and the average sum or Iae4.d rateable value in the lowest of thepe bor- t>ugœ was a little over £5. whilst the highest a little over £10. In oonolusion, Mr Marks said that he was con- vinced that the time iiad now arrived when Llan- fludno, in its own in tercets, should take the step he advocated. Llandudno was far and away lie leading town, in the oounty, but it was not treated as it should be in county matters. In- Corporation was one way of remedying that de- fect. He, therefore, proposed a resolution to the effect that the meeting approve of the prin- ciple of applying for a charter of incorporation for Llaadudno (applause). Mr Tonge eeoonded, and said that they all felt proud of the town in which they lived, and twa-nted their town to be elevated to a higher Status. Mr Marks had made it clear that thi6 object could be obtained by the incorporation of jLlandudno. They did not want to be considered a. scoond or third rate town—(hear, hear),—they had a right to the highest form of government and that was the one advocated by Mr Marks, the privileges of which would far exceed the poet (applause). Mr O. W. Roberts asked whether the pro- posed Borough Council would have the power to prevent street hawking? Mr Marks: No. Mr Roberts: What would be the difference, then? Mr Marks: It would effect hawking by chil- dren, and the selling of newspapers, etc. Mr O. W. Roberts contended that the Educa- tion Act could not now be brought under the power of a new borough at Llandudno, as it was not incorporated in 1901, when the Act was passed. However, there was one decided ad- vantage to be gained by incorporation, and that fwas a Borough "Bench instead of a County Bench, which, considering the very few magis- trates at present in the town, would be a. de- cided gain for Llandudno. Mr H. Rathbone said that he desired to know how incorporation would effect the votes of (women ? A DISSENTIENT VOICE. Mr Higginbottom said t.hat if Llandudno was Incorporated, it would have its ownpoiioe force to maintain, and would have to contribute to- :wa.rd. the maintenance of the county police as 1W11. A certain number of ladies would be de- prived of their votes, which woukl mean that xJandudno would become great in name, but little in fact (hear, hear). He thougiht that tilings were far better left as they were. Men (■were now elected for three years, and if they conducted themselves well, the ratepayers ai- rways took good care to retain them. Unfor- tunately, perhaps, tihey had found some of the members not so useful as they we.re a.t first, so the town at recent elections had given thorn the open-air treatment. If they had a Borough Council a.t Llandudno, such men would be made aldermen by their friends on the Council, thus placing them beyond the reach of the ratepayers. He oontended that men who spent the rate- payers' money tibould oome before the electors at least every three years. Some people thought incorporation would be a.n advantage as it al- I the Council to spend as much money as they liked on advertising the town, but tiat not necessary at Llandudno, for once visi- tors came to Llandudno, they always came again fend for that reason he contended that Iiandud- r was far better off as she was at present than ? incorporated (applause). Councillor E. E. Bone said that he had been in favour of incorporation for over ten years, but admitted that there was a good deal to be paid in favour of both sides. The tendency of legislation wag to make borougihs more and more self-governing, which was an important Iaot wthen it concerned seaside towns such as liandudno. The legislation of the future would confer further powers upon boroughs, and tie last Education Act afforded ample proof of that t. If a. neighbouring town was oonverted Into a borough before Llandudno, he felt sure they would all regret it (apfpiaa&e). Councillor J. R. Dawson said Ohat Councillor J. J. Marks had made a very eloquent speech, but he would venture to suggest that the ad- tag they wore supposed to gain from in- corporation were very shadowy. If incorpora- tion would make Llandudno a first-class borough there wag & great deal to be said for it, as they Would then have direct dealings with the Government. For his part, he would rather see 'the town under a first-class Urban District Coon- oil than have the shadowy advantages of a second rate borough. With regard to the irit- is jng, they already enjoyed the privilege of a -< large* basis, only under another name, by which be referred to the highway rate. Therefore they would stand to lose rather thM to gain in that respect. The highway rate weø taken openJy and Jvonestly, not smuggled in the poor rates By incorporation the Railway Company Would gain a little bit, and the householder would have to make it up. One of his chief ob- Sft ions to incorporation was beoa-uee a Urban istriot Council was the meet Democratic form of government known, and he did not wiant to pee the electorate diminished. With regvwd to the wotnen'e side of the question, they wanted protection for married women He did not think it right that a nimc&er should be doba-rred irotu

Advertising

AMATEUR THEATRICALS AT LLANDUDNO.

-... HOARSENESS and Loss of…

- LLOYD STREET COUNCIL SCHOOL,…

GIRLS' SCHOOL.

BETTWSYCOED POLICE COURT.

CHRISTMAS NOVKLTIKS.

--- ------_._----LLANRWST…

LLANDUDNO PETTY SESSIONS.

Advertising

PROPOSED INCORPORATION OF…