KARORI CIVIC LIFE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 164, 5 April 1919, Page 8

KARORI CIVIC LIFE

INTEREST AROUSE!) AMALGAMATION WITH THE CITY A meeting of Knruri residents was held last evening in tho schoolroom for the purpose of arousing interest in tho forthcoming borough election, and to secure candidates for the council who would consider the matter of providing the borough with water and drainage, and also help to push forward the question of amalgamation with the city.

Mr. W. G. Tusiiii presided, and said that there was is. great deal of dissatisfaction felt at the way borough affairs had been allowed to drift during the past six years or more. Unfortunately every borough got the kind of Mayor and the kind of council it deserved, and this meeting had been called to see if interest could not be moused in civic matters and elect a council that would pursue a progressive policy. They all knew they would never get water and drainage until they becanio a pari of Greater Wellington. When the very largo deputation waited upon the Mayor with respect to amalgamation, they wero told that it would bo pushed forward vigorously, but it had not been pushed forwardMr. ,T. Caughley said he thought that throughout the borough there was a desire that some life should be imparted into borough affairs, and tho question of amalgamation should have fair consideration. Nobody seemed to care to take tho lead, and rather than let the matter go by default he convened the meeting. There was a real desiro to seo elected a more progressive council, and he hoped they would be able to secure suitable candidates at (lie meeting. Tho council, ho believed, had some proposal iu hand with respect to water and drainage, and ho was afraid that if the matter was left to the council it would prove very costly; He did not think tho borough could carry out Hie work as economically as the city. lie thought amalgamation was tho solution of the problem; it_was a business proposition. ICarori was \the smallest borough in New Zealand in every respect. The whole area of Karori was not greater than a fair-sized farm, and if they deducted the nrcas they looked after themselves behind their fences (here was very litllo left for the council to look after, and an ordinary business man could do that. They wanted amalgamation with ( the city to have full consideration. There was no ill-feeling towards the present Mayor and councillors, but tho residents thought they could get a better team together. . Councillor IT. I?. Dryden said he was in accord with the chairman and Mr. Caughley. H.o felt that in (he past two years the progress of the borough had been very little. The question of water and drainage had noon left severely alone until'now. Mr. W. Skegg said the main question they had to consider was making the borough a suitable place to live in, and, the scheme that appealed to most people was amalgamation witli the city, or alternatively that the borough should submit u scheme of its own. The borough engineer was instructed to make a preliminary report. In his opinion, tho best thing they could do to secure these conveniences would be to amalgamate with the citv. As far us he was concerned ho would not suggest that they should go into the city unconditionally. They hod replacement fund of JSOOO in hand, and ho for one would not bo prepared to hand that over without some conditions. If ho accepted nomination for the mayoralty and were elected ho would push'the question of amalgamation to its logical conclusion. It wns necessary to have better communication with tho city, and that -would- rosrult in moro people coming to livo in Karon., At tho present time the extension of tho trainway was a dead loss to the borough, but tho city could probably make it pay. Ho dealt exhaustively with tho assets of the borough, which were valuable, and ho contended that they should not bo handed over to the city without some conditions. Ho spoko in eulogistic terms of the officers of the borough, and suggested that in any amalgamation scheme provision should bo made- for the permanent hands of tho borougli. Ho concluded by saving that if ho accepted nomination for the mayoralty ho would expect to have a good team of councillors to work with. Councillor J. Henderson said they were all in favour of amalgamation if they obtained suitable terms—that was tho kernel of tho matter. The city was not prepared to grant any conditions, and it did not take more than a quarter of an hour to find that out. They had assets worth .£69,000, and if tliey amalgamated they would have to hand over their assets and lie responsible for their liabilities. He dofended the action of tho council, and pointed out that nothing could be done until March 31 next, consequently there was no need for hurry. The Financo Committeo of tho City Council were not fools; they could not be bullied into accepting an ultimatum from Karori. There wero 72 chairs in tho council' chamber, and -except wlien a deputation waited upon the council ho had never seen those chairs occupied at nny council meeting, clear proof that, the residents took very little interest in borough affairs. If the residents wished to fee what progress was being made ho .would invite thfim to attend the council meetings and take a little more interest in borougli aftairs. The question of amalgamation appeared to depend upon the little word "if"-if they could get terms. Mr. Caughley moved: "That Councillor Skegg is a fit and proper person to bo nominated to the Unyoralty of tho borough, and that this meeting pledge* iMf to support his candidature." This -was seconded by Mr. J; Burns). The Mayor (Mr. B. G. H. Burn) said that tho chairman was wrong in stating that meetings had not been called. Ho instanced two or three meetings that had been called,' and only two or three people attended; In rogard to water and drainago he said that a loan proposal was submitted, but'it was thrown out, and the council could not Im> blamed for that. With respect to amalgamation they did wait upon tho Mayor, but the interview was not long enough to determine whether they could get conditions or not. He was of opinion that both •Karori and Miramar, on amalgamating with the city, would have to go in as Onslow did, Without conditions. Tho cost of running the borough during the past four years had been very groat owing to the rise in the price of commodities, and yet their rates had not increased. The borough finances had been kept in a healthy condition, but there would be a deficit this year, because tho influenza epidemic had cost a great deal more than most of them thought likolv. Mr. Sk-" , g desired to know whether the present Mayor intended seeking re-elec-tion. Mr. Burn said that h6 had come to tho vaooting as a ratepayer. Ho would consider tho matter of standing am\in, and would make a declaration on tho point. Tho motion was- carried, but Mr. Skegg snid that he did not feel disposed to accede to the request. Ho had given the matter a great deal of consideration, but he did not fool justified in accepting nomination, for he did not fool that he would be able to give satisfaction. Howevo.r, he finally agreed to accept nomination. For councillors it was decided that the follnwinn should bo nominated:—Messrs. H. V>. Drvdon, P. L. fingey, ,T. Burns, .T. Canghlev. J. W. Henderson. V. J. Lanrenson, L. G Porter, and It Fletcher.