DRAWING NEARER

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 289, 2 September 1919, Page 4

DRAWING NEARER

t MUNICIPAL RAPPROCHEMENT. A deputation consisting of the Mayor of Eastbourne (Mr. Francis 11. Mather;, Councillor N. Marsdnii, and Mr. S. Heath (borough clerk) wailed on the Finalico Coinmiit-tee of the City Council yesterday afternoon to make certain statements nnd Ru'bmit figures concerning the Eastboumn Bornujili's affairs, in viewlnf tlie nronosed amalgamation with, the city. Tho Eastbourne Borough Council made no secret of its desire to amalgamate with .Wellington at tho earliest possibln otcasioii, but at present there .'vyas a legal difficulty to be got over. The Mayor (Mr. J. P. I.uko), speaking to n Dominion reporter yesterday, said that the difficulty concerned the jtfopraphical location of the borough. Tho Act under which boroughs might merge only provided for the amalgamation of contiguous boroughs, and Eastbourne could not be said to be contiguous to Wellington. though only on the other F.ide of tlw hnrbour. For that reason it seemed that, before anything could be done either a special Act would have to bo passed by Parliament or an amendment lnnde (o existing •legislation, making the conditions providing for thp amalgamation of boroughs a little anoro elastic. Either one courso or the other would have to bo followed before the formal poll was taken in one or both of the boroughs concerned. The denutation of yesterday merely supplied the committee with data. A report would be made to the council oil the mutter at a later dato, The amalgamation of ICarori with.tho city was before tho Finance. Committee of tlu\ City Council yesterday afternoon. A« the time at the di-'mcal of the committee wa° slmrt the data respecting the borough's position will be sent out to each member, and fully discussed flt tho next meeting of the Finance Committee.