KARORI AND THE CITY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 17, 15 October 1919, Page 5

KARORI AND THE CITY

;, h ;;;PLGAMATION QUESTION ■vr;r.l Mlli <l POLL'iTO BE TAKEN NEXT I. tioi-.w:;.:':' ' MONTH / ISomo.-'time ago the Karori Borough Council made proposals to the city in respect to amalgamation on certain conditions, and last evening a letter from the City Council Was read at the Karori Borough Council, in which it was stated that the city could not agree.to tho conditions named, but was willing to amalgamate if Karori would come in unconditionally. _ „ . . The Mayor (Mr. B. G. H. Burn), m moving that the matter be referred hacK to the Amalgamation Committee with the view of arranging for a discussion on the subject with a committee of the City Council, said that unconditional union would bo hardly fair. It was stated by one city councillor that U would no unfair to admit Karon into the city on terms when other boroughs bad coine. in unconditionally. He J.Mr. Burn) thought that Karori was in « different position to Onslow, which united .with the city unconditionally. Onslow had cvervtbing to gain and nothing to lose. Melroec joined the city •in verv good ternw. Karon had a good tramwav and other valuable assets. It Mr. Luke's Bill for the consolidation of Joans had Iron carried there would have been no difficulty with re?nect to amalgamation. In am- event the whole mat : ler would have to be placed before the ratepayers. Councillor .T. Ca\ighley moved as an amendment: 'That the question of amalgamation with the city uiiccndit'onally should be submitted to a poll of ratepayers on Wednesday. November 12. or nearest convenient date." Councillor Cainrblev said that it was not tho slightest use of referring the matter bad; to the committee. The city s reply to the council appeared to be final, but he was certain the city would agree to take over tho permanent officers of the borough as was dono in tli9 case of Onslow. .. ... Councillor ,T. Burns, in support'ng the amendment said: he could not pee that there would b? any gain in waiting any longer. He knew that a great many ratepayers of the borough were in favour of unconditional amalgamation with the city. He did not think the borough had anything- ' to fear from amnle-nmating with the city unconditionally! He was satisfied no progress could bo mado in the future without amalgamation with the city. It would be impossible to get water and', drainage while they remained a. borough. He was of opinion it. would l%e best to place the matter before tho ratepayers of the borough as early as possible. Councillors Tingey, Porter, and'Lauronsnn snnke in favour of the amendment, wbile'Omtncillors E. Harrison, J. C. Fulton, and T. Munt were in fnvon/ of endeavouring to get an interviewpvith the City Council. ' Tho Mavor, in replying rcfuto-l a statement made .by Councillor H'trns, that tho previous council hnd done nothing. He contended that the previous council had been iust as eager as the present council to amalgamate with the city. He was verv much in favour of amalgamation, notwithstanding that 'he was not on the "ticket" at the municipal election, but he was not in favour of going cap in hand and hedging the'oily to accept them unconditionally. He gave detailed information as to what the previous council did to further amalgamation. He thought that good would result in trying to got an interview with the citv nu'hdrities. and the matter should not take long if it wen represented to the Mayor of the city that it \vns desired to submit ; the question to "the ratepayers of the borough. Whether amalgamation would be beneficial or not to the borough he would have something to say when the matter wa«< placed before the ratepayers when he would deal with the subject with fairness, pointing out the gains and' disadvantages of amalgamation. His only reason for referring the matter back to tho committee was thai ho thought they might bo able to achieve something by discussing the subject with the city authorities. Councillors Burns roso to make a personal exnlaantion, aim' in the course .of tliis there was someheat shown in the oxchango of icomnients between the councillor and the Mayor. , Councillor Coughley said that all the borough had to be careful about was the special rates. They-were in debt, and their tramway was not paying; how, then, could they name conditions for combining with the city? The amendment was carried, by S to 3, which means that a poll of ratepayers will be taken next month on the question of amalgamation.