MIRAMAR AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 151, 21 March 1919, Page 6

MIRAMAR AFFAIRS

AMALGAMATION DISCUSSED

LIVELY MUNICIPAL INTEREST DISPLAYED. Quite a livelv interest is being manifested in municipal matters in Mirainar at the present time in view of tho ap; proaching elections. Two ratepayers associations havo been formed, and both are out for "new blood" 011 the borough council. Tho Seatoun and Bays Association are putting up Messrs. B. h Gardiner, C. J. Burnett, and Edward Collie, and tho Mirainar Association is nominating Mrs. M'Vicor and Messrs. J. Hicks and Newton. Last evening tho first-mentioned association invited all tho candidates mentioned to express their views 119 well as Mr. S. M. Stone, a candidal for the mayoralty. Mr. Stono said ho had been a councillor for six years, dating from 1911, during which time ho had been only absent three times from meetings. One of tho burning questions whioh had to be faced was that of amalgamation. At one time ho was strongly opposed to it, but whilst he was a councillor ho realised that it was a question that would havo to bo most carefully considered, and if elected lie proposed to dig deep into the subject and place tho whole matter before tho. ratepayers, and so decide t.e question onco and for all. They should thrash tho whole matter out, both its good points and the bad ones. Asked for a straight-out opinion as to whether he was in favour of amalgamation or not, Mr. Stone said it was a question 110 one could give a straight-out answer to. Another questioner wished to know why tho hill residents had not been served with water and drainage though they paid rates for same. The same speaker mentioned that some 300 or 400 children at tho school had recently been loft without n drop of water. Mr. Stone replied that it was a question of money. To do tho work proposed more money wouldh ave had to be raised, and the times were not opportune for tho raising of a loan. The pipes that had been left over were sold, and the money had been employed to complete tho work on the flat..

Sir. Rountree asked if it were not true that ,£7OOO had been set aside for providing water for the high levels. Mr. Stone: "Not to my knowledge." Mr. Eonntree: "I think you will find that was so. Had tho council tho power to use that money ?" Mr. Stone: "Well, they did so." Mr. Eountreo: "They took the power." Mr. Stone: **Yes."

The chairman suggested that the Mayor (Mr. P. Townsend), who was present, might l)e able to enlighten them. Mr. Townsend said lie had attended in ansjver to the advertisement to hear the views of aspiring candidates for the council. Ho said that he proposed to call a, meeting of tho ratepayers next week to deal with matters concerning the welfare and betterment of tho district

Mr. J. Hicks suid that amalgamation was a burning question. Some time ago ho wis not for it, but ho had learned that it was not a question to jump into. Tho secretary of his association had asked Mr. Dalo what Onslow expected to get out of amalgamation with tho city, and Mr. Dalo had replied that the borough had no water, drainage, or trams, and the only way to get them was by amalgamation. The roads of the borough, continued Mr. Hicks, were in a bad way, and wero poorly lighted and must be looked to. He thought they should get amalgamation within the borough before they thought of amalgamation with the city. They should pull together aud put down anything in tho nature of party feeling.' Mi'. Edward Collie congratulated tho council on tho new waiting shed at Seatoun, but thought that the approach to Seatoun, lieai- the tunnel, could be gTeatly improved. He realised that amalgamation was a big question, and ho knew nothing of it. Ho could not oven vote intelligently on it at tho present time'. He thought tint tho council should control its own milk supply. He would even go farther than Wellington and control it from tho farm. They should havo a better tram service. On that point he was informed' that it was a matter of .£ s. d., but thero wero times when an extra car was needed—and it would pay. Mr. Barnett spoko humorously of Scotch thistles which grew unchecked by tho roadside, 'and about tho inadvisa*bilitv of having councillors who resided: outside tho borough. He would nol; pledge himself re amalgamation until ho knew more about it. Mr. B. F. Gardiner, referring to amalgamation, enid it was the councillors wllto should give the ratepayers a lead, for it was a matter for the ratepayers to decide, not the council. He was of opinion tli at the borough should havo its own pea ce, celebrations. Asked if he would support n- loan Hbr water and drainage on the hills, ho I replied in tho affirmative. There was some discussion as to !t|he meeting Mr. Townsend proposed to (jail (at which ho promised lull informal,ion pro and con on amalgamation), in \vliicli there were traces of acrimony. Fin ally the Mayor promised to hold two meetings —one at Seatoun and one at. Miramtir. Mr. H. A. Smith occupied the cJaair, and at tho conclusion put the motion moved by Mr. F. Black: "That this meeting tenders its thanks to tho candidates for the views expressed, and promises to support them at the forthcoming jtoll." The motion was carried unanimously.