COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18417, 25 June 1925, Page 7

COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

The matter of continued alterations to couuty boundaries was mentioned at last night's adjourned meeting of the "Waimairi County Council. The Minister of Internal Affairs wrote in reference to the representations which hod been made by the Council relative to the question of making some provision to prevent the continued alteraaons of county boundaries. The Council's lirst suggestion was that a petition be not considered in respect of the exclusion of an area from a county, and its inclusion in a borough, for a period of five years if a petition in respect of the same area had been rejected. 'lne second/ proposal was that mere should in every instance of the exclusion of an area from a county be a poll of ratepayers. The Minister wrote that there was a good deal to be said in favour of the suggestion that some time limit should be nxed in order to prevent petitions in respect of the same area being dealt with in a given period. ' 'After giving the matter careful consideration, I am of opinion that it is desirable to consider whetuer the proportion of electors should not be increased from onefourth, as it now stands, to three-tilths. If this proposal was agreed to it should largely meet the view of the Council, because in the first place it would not be so easy to get ,i petition as it now is. and this should reduce the number; and, secondly, because it would seem to do away with any necessity for a poll when a majority of electors were in favour of their, lands being included in or excluded from a borough." The Minister said that as the matter was one vitally concerning all boroughs and counties, it should' be considered dv the Counties Conference and the Municipal Conference. He suggested that steps should be taken to bring tne matter before both conferences. The letter was received, and it was decided to frame a remit for the Counties Coa-