Waikanae Proposal Dubbed Hush Hush

Chronicle (Levin), 13 February 1948, Page 2

Waikanae Proposal Dubbed Hush Hush

He thought it was all being done in a hush hush way and had been told that the majority of the people were opposed to it. This comment was made by Cr. L. F. Brown at Wednesday's meeting of the Horowhenua County Council during discussion of a letter from Mr. F. Martyn Renner, president of the Waikanae Beach Progressive Association, in regard to the proposal for the secession of Waikanae Beach and township from the Horowhenua County and amalgamation with the Hutt County. The letter from Mr. Renner said that in December he had written to the Hutt County Council intimating that certain members of his association felt that the interests of the beach and township would be' better served by sucih a change, and asking for its reaction. The Hutt Council had replied that it had no objection. His enquiries to date had been purely exploratory, continued Mr. Renner. He asked what the Horowhenua Council's attitude would be assuming that the- beach and township petitioned for amalgamation With Hutt. The ihatter was to be • discussed at a meeting of his association on February 14. Cr. Brown, commenting further, said he. did not tliink the people butside the beach area had even been consulted about the proposal. The chairmait, Mr. A. M. Colquhoun, pointed out that so far there had been no defmite proposal froin the association, but merely letters from Mr. Renner as president. He was of the opinion that the approach should come as the result"' .of a motion by the- association, and that the association should define what area it thought should be seceded. He had been to Waikanae and ascertained that the majority of the people were quite satisfied with the Horowhenua County's adminis.tration and that only a few were agitating for amalgamation with Hutt, said Cr. R. W.- Jenkins. The proposal did not have the wholehearted -support of Waikanae l Beach, - The council resolved that when| the association passed a resolution: qn-the proposal it would further consider the niatter.