GREATER WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2841, 4 August 1916, Page 6

GREATER WELLINGTON

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LINKING UP OF ONSLOW

COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER

THE QUESTION

"That a special couimiUc?, consisting of Councillors Budd, Palmer, Bowden, and tho mover he set up to fully consider tho question of amalgamation of the Onslow Borough with Wellington City." This was a notice of motion standing in tho name of Councillor W. Apploton, and moved by him at last night's meeting of tho Onslow Borough Council. Councillor A. £. Budd seconded the motion pro forma. Misunderstanding Cleared Up. Prior to moving his motion Councillor Appleton stated that he had brought tho matter up last March and had been asked to hold tho question over for a time. ■ Imagine his surprise when he learned that Councillor Palmer had given in a similar notice of motion half an hour after the Town Clerk had received his. He entered a strong protest against tho second motion being received and ho thought that it was a discourteous action.

The Mayor said that he was sure that Councillor Palm or wns not awaro of the previous motion. He also stated that he personally had forgotten its existance. Councillor A. W. C. Palmer, bv way of explanation, said that he did not know anything about the motion. How could he bo expected to, seeing that it had been mentioned at a Water Committee, meeting, and ho was not a mcmbor of that committee. Tho speaker maintained that he was the first member of tho council to mention the amalgamation schome, and after having talked the matter over with one or two other councillors—(A voice: Held a caucus meeting.)—he gave tho necessary notice of motion.

Councillor Appleton accepted Councillor Palmer s explanation, but expressed surpriso at the action of at least two other councillors, who, he said, must have known of his previous motion. Councillor J. G. Smith, in explaining his position in the matter, gave his assurance that ho had acted with Councillor Palmer on the understanding that Councillor Appleton had dropped the matter altogether because nothing more had been heard of it till Councillor Appleton s notice of motion had been sent

The Mayor suggested d way out of tho difficulty by placing Councillor Palmer's namo on the committee and asking him to withdraw his motion. This Ava6 agreed to.

Discussion on the Motion,

Councillor Appleton then movod the nodoubt at Ull that'tho t'lme come" 1 rSWeian^M on to explain tho benefits which, in his Ev H.°» n ' W °i be „S ain «l by the borough bv the amalgamation. The Onslow water ana drainage schemes must eventually be connected with tho City, and the amalgamation must not be asked for at a tim© when too borough, panted anything He was suro that if a motion to amalgamate was placed before the ratepayers HP h e n ,H S ii Ul /"n 0 Wollld Ixl earned. He had talked tho matter over iritli numerous ratepayers in the borough, and scheme" 0 WaS c " s ' lUo^y * u favour of the

Speaking on behalf of Councillor C. wh D ° unavoidably absent, Councillor Budd said that the member toi Kaiwarra ward had always been a strong opponent of tho amalgamation. jL-or certify reasons, for which ho could £iu ill explanation Counf !?,V* w ld Jlo y stflted t/vat ho thought that it would bo a distinct the"city° k 01 ' 0 "!: 11 b© absorbed by Councillor Browne spoke strongly iim ?n p ™ posa '- , Ho lv as quito will. MB to be convinced that tho idea was a good ono if tho committee 6et up could produce evidence which to his mind was in favour of the -scheme. Tho matter was a most important one, and deserved C ? a !l ation- 110 ex P r essed tho hope that tho committee would approach the matter with unbiased and open minds. / u

Councillor J. G. Smith supported the proposal. Ihe committee .had taken on a an 4. their report should be of benefit even if thel proposal was not earned into effect. One matter which had to be seriously considered was representation. Ihe only point in regard to setcL n li". P l i I CODI I. , V it , M was that a report led time* Ught dov ™ withiu a s l*ci-

Councillor Budd was of opinion that the committee should approach, the matter fairly and obtain both sides of tho question In answer to Councillor Browne tk ta « ' 1 Wadestown had been starved ky &e City, he said that it was strange that the City Council had spent more money on Wadestown last year than had been obtained from that district. As an argument, in favour of the amalgamation, the speaker pointed out what had been done for Melrose, Wadestown, and other districts in joining up with tho City.

Councillor Palmer said that be would have great pleasure in acting on the committee. Ho did not sea what benefits would be gained by amalgamating in the near future, but the committee would bp abto to investigate the matter thoroughly, and no doubt ho would then bo convinced oue way or tho other. Councillor Brenton-R.ule could not *ee why councillors should object to tho motion. Ho supported it The Mayor (Jtr. C. C. Crump) expressed pleasure at the motion being before tho meeting. If tho committee could prove that the scheme would be a benefit then Onslow would thank 'them. If, on the other hand, the committee reported unfavourably, then, as they were honourable men. their decision would have to be accepted. If Onslow did join the City it would be found that the. question of representation was a very serious matter. At present ho could not altogether see the benefits to bo derived, from the scheme, but ono had to wait for the committee's report beforo expressing a definite opinion.

Councillor Appleton in Reply,

Councillor Appleton, in reply, said that the amalgamation must come within two years. Concerning railways, within a fow years trains to the Hilt t would go via Tawa Flat and be electrically driven. Regarding tramways, it was only a matter of erecting a viaduct and the trams would then continuo their journey from Wadestown to Onslow. If Onslow took over somo of tho City's liabilities, it must bo remembered that it wouTd take over the City's assets also. The .question of representation could be managed by a Ratepayers' Association. Ho was glad that councillors liad expressed the opinion that tho committee should bo set up.

The motion was carried unanimously.