AMALGAMATION?

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2756, 27 April 1916, Page 8

AMALGAMATION?

DISCUSSED BY THfi ELECTORS

OF MIRAMAR

OPINIONS FOR AND AGAINST

In order to discuss the question of amalgamation with the City, a meeting of electors of the lUiramar Borough was called for, tho Town Hall last night. Tho Mayor (Mr. F. Townsend) presided over an attendance of about sixty ladies and gentlemen. The Mayor explained that a petition on tho question had recently been presented to the council, but, owing to tile irregularities appearing on the faco of it, the council had decided .that it could not bo accepted. However, in order that, the petitioners might not bo placed at a disadvantage, the meeting had been called to give them an opportunity of i demonstrating what was to be gained by amalgamation. Tho Mayor stated that the council as a wholo would gladly support amalgamation if it could bo ■ shown that it was for tho good of the borough. The question was an important, one and he would call upon tho petitioners to place their views before the meeting. ' Mr. Bath, as one of those who signed the potition, gave'as his reason for doing so that it seemed the most satisfactory way of getting anything done. At'present they were unable to get up and down the roads, and ho-asked what was the council doing with its money. He was proceeding-to criticise the work done in the borough when he was ruled out of order by the Mayor. Mr. Cornish said that it appeared that-the, last speaker had a right to explain why-ho desired a change, but ho had perhaps spoken with a little too much heat. .'■•.:.

The Mayor declared that it was not his intention to avoid any discussion as long as it was upon the subject advertised—the benefits to bo derived from amalgamation. ,'. •' Mr.. Cornish.pointed to the progress made by Lyall Bay and Island Bay as examples of the benofits to' be derived from amalgamation. Seatoun. was one of the best little watering places round about.but. was not making the progress it deserved to make. By amalpmation with the City ■ they' would have ..tho advantage of .expert opinion on all important questions. Mr. Eggers. suggested that building permits would be obtained more quickly by.amalgamation., ~.'.. Mr. Tomlin maintained that improved •, tran J services to Seatoun and Miramar would be an immediate result of amalgamation. '- There was also room for improvement in water, drainage, and lighting. ;'..,' Mr. Brodio spokeas a consistent adyocato of amalgamation. He declared that the wholo of the progress of the borough depended upon the fact that it was adjacent to the.City. /Amalgamation would, he contended, mato for economy of administration, and generally the district would be on- a much sounder basis -by. being, identified with tlie City. Iho ..question, if viewed broadly showed that the. advantages wero. wholly, in, favour of. anialgama-'

Mr. H'.-'J. Wyatt considered that the question was too big to be settled in one aught and at such short notice. Me suggested that the matter should be further discussed at.a meeting to be wi m , Seatoun a fortnight hence. . The Mayor was of opinion that the meeting was, .quite competent to discuss the question without adjourning to beatoun, where there was no suitablo place to hold a meeting which would be representative of the borough. Up ■till now the city had given no indication as to wliether it would to in favour of amalgamation," In 1913 the borough had approached the- city by letter asking for certain information'in regard to 'amalgamation, but no reply to tho letter had been received. Later a committee from the borough had met the icity representatives but no definite result had been reached at the meeting, lliis, he contended, was evidence that the city did. not favour amalgamation, bottling, he continued, was to be gained from amalgamation. The borough had everything that the city had— A voice: No. , ■ Tho Mayor: Barring the Zoo: (Laughter.) v . .

i -L J l r ' ?/ Watson: And ymi can get ■%L wlthout being-in the city. .The Mayor-said, that no other place watJi such a small-population had such a splendid tram service as. Miramar. iiie ..probability was that fares would' be increased by amalgamation with the °i y 'k Wo,lltl not be an 5 r les s under the city administration. In regard to, the raising of loans, the figures proved that in the past Miramar had obtained its money on better terms than the city. The figures showed too that the cost of administration was less in proportion than in the city, It had to bo remembered that the Lofough was ono with a capital value of £725,000 and a population of only 2000. How could those 2500 people obtain fair.representation if they went in with tho city. Their votes would be nothing against tho votes of tho .rest of the people of; Greater Wellington. 'Mr.."\V. Watson stated, that his experience was that Miramar was not at a disadvantage with the city in tho matter of raising money either for public or private purposes. Mr. A. D. Crawford expressed himself as absolutely .against amalgamation. He quoted figures >in support of Jiis opinion, instancing among cither things the burden of the HutVßoad, and pointing out that Miramar, if it joined the city, would have to share the city's 38 per cent, of tlie cost of the work, whereas its present contribution was only } per cent. To prove that ho was genuine he would be willing to dispose of all the land held in the borough except, his own building site. Had he known that amalgamation was ■ in the air, he wouldnever-have commenced to build.

Tho discussion was continued until 11 p.m., when a resolution was carried against amalgamation. .