KARORI AND THE CITY
AMALGAMATION PROPOSAL
DEPUTATION TO THE BOROUGH
COUNCIL
A very large number of ratepayers of lyarori waited upon tbo Karori liorough Counoil last evening to urge the amalgamation of tbo borough with the city. Councillor Henderson introduced tho deputation.
ilr. J. Caughley said that the deputation came together almost spontaneously. Various ratepayers had been discussing the question, and it only required someone to take the matter up. A meeting was arranged and held on Friday, and tho, meeting decided then to wait oil the council as a deputation and nrge this question of amalgamation. He thought amalgamation with the city would be of immediate advantage, but they did not want something for nothing. The borough's special loans must be borne by tho borough, and if they received special benefits from the city they should ba on reasonable terms. There were possibilities that they would v pbtain certain services on a m'oro efficient and more economical basis than they could provide tho same services for themselves. The Karori borough need not be ashamed of what it had to offer the city. Karori was in a very good condition in,overy way, as good as any borough of the same size. They had provided tho city with an arterial road by the construction of the tunnel, and then there was the park, from which the city would benefit as much as would Karori. Amalgamation would bo quite an even-sided arrangement. The feeling of the deputation ivas not in any way antagonistic to the council, for they recognised that the council had done a good deal. "With respect to the staff, he trusted that in any amalgamation proposal with the city efforts would be mado to induce the city to retain the services of the Town Clerk and the Borough, Engineer, who wore faithful officers of the borough. He pointed out that Wellington was becoming congested. Hataitai and Kilbirnio progressed immediately by travelling facilities were provided, and if Karori were similarly treated settlement in the borough would expand at the same rapid rate. ' The city ninst find an outlet for its growing population and Karori offered special advantages in this respect. Mr. S. Kirkcaldie said the size of the deputation was the best argument. There had never been such a large deputation to tho council during the history of the borough. The question of amalgamation wa9 not confined to (Wellington; it was taking place in other parts and under varying conditions. Water and drainage wore essential services and were not available in Karori. He was independent in thiß matter, but he recognised that their absence rendered the community subject to the risk of infectious diseases. He had been told by a medical man that they vere running great risks in not providing thise essential services. It ras a duty they ow'ed to their families to pro fide these services, and this could best bo accomplished by amalgamation with the city. Dr. Frengley said that he was present as a ratepayer of the borough, and not in his official capacity, characterised Karori as tho finest of 'Wellington's suburbs, and stated that he did ,not think the city would hesitate to grasp this suburban jew.jl. There were many present in the deputation who would do anything to got a drainage scheme, and get rid of the present abomination. Ho urged the council, to join with the deputation lo forward the cmalgamation scheme. He referred appreciatively to the services of the Town Clerk and Engineer, and trusted that in nny sclnine of amalgamation tluse officers would not be overlooked. Dr. Platts-Mills, who al6o tpolce, said she knew of the diffieultijs that existed 'in most of, the homes in Karori for the want of water End drainage. She also urged amalga nation, v.-ith the city as a way out of the difficulty, and the best 'means of securing these essential sendees* The women oil Karori desired to have cleanliness and comfort in their homes. ■ The JJayor, in addressing tho deputation, said he was with then .is regards amalgamation. Karori, he declared, was tho healthiest borough iound atout. He knew that from the health oftlcer's reports. They had a water and drainage solieme offered to them, but the ratepayers turned down the proposul. But that was past. Ho was glad they did not attempt 'to bind the conucil as to the amalgamation terms. They wonld have to give and take (j and rot expect to make any special'terms. He would not, aii the Northland people had done, ask to be taken over on torms. They had some very valuable assets to offer to the city, and they mast amalgamate on a strict business basis. They .just .not give all and take nothing. They had had one section of the ratepayers crying out for water and drainage, and another for amalgamation with tho city, but now he understood they wcro all for amalgamation first, and then their efforts would bo directed to securing the osseutial services. Whatever arrangements' were made with tho city, they would be subject to the approval of the ratepayers, and a poll would be taken on the matter. The deputation thanked the Mayor and council and then withdrew.
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Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 238, 26 June 1918, Page 8
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865KARORI AND THE CITY Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 238, 26 June 1918, Page 8
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