GREATER WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 31, 31 October 1919, Page 8

GREATER WELLINGTON

AMALGAMATION OF MIRAMAR

STATEMENT AT CITY COUNCIL Reference to the proposed amalgamation of Miramar with the city was made at last night's meeting < f the City Council, when fhe Finance Committee recommended that the Miramar Borough Council ho informed that the City Council will be prepared to agree to the unconditional merging of the borough in tho city.

Tho Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) sain | the matter was one which would right itself in time, lf.o had noticed that tho Miramar Council had rejected the amalgamation proposal as put lurward by the city. ".No doubt the project will l;« resuscitated in quicker time than sumu peoplo outside the council imagin-v said ilr. Luke. "My own private op.iuon is that the Miramar peupio arc li'issing a very great opportunity lor extending their borough, and lor mutually aiUaiding the whole of the district." To suggest Hie unconditional merging of a borough with the city did seem a bit harsh, but his experience had I ecu that; Hie conditional merging of boroughs-had not been at all salislaetory. 'J iie. best lesults accrued whtn. the' contracting parties agreed to do the best they cviilu in developing a district whic'n was merged into Hie citj. Mirauiur was practically independent because the City Council Had done all the i-ork for Hie borough. / Hear, hear.) 'tho city was supp.ying yiiiumar v.itli street «.nd private lighting, water, and uiainage, and the borough nati no nveriiuiil charges it, connection with drainage. The " Cily Council had been the "foster-mother 1 ' and the "foster-lather" to the uo"oii"h (Hear, hear.) In the matter of oiiunage the borough had a good deal tc tiiiink the city tor. The city had aL-o provided tho tramways for the boioii"ji, He was not at all surprise at the action Miramar had taken, neither did he feel altogether disappointed, l.ecausc he knew there was certain propaganda ivork that could be carried out m the bonjiign. » hcther the city should undertake that propaganda wonc he vas not i.iepure'l to say. He wanted to be dear in Jus own mind that, financially, the ciiv was ottering the borough very considerably advantages. "We are holding out the right hand of fellowship," said Jlr Luke .and if they arc not prepared to "rasn u, the disability is theirs ami not ours " Ho thought that it was be titer for all Uie outside boroughs to be linkeu ui> with the city and from that point oi view he regretted Miramar's action. .Mr Luke said that at tho nest meeting of tho council he would endeavour to have a statement ready showing the rutin" responsibilities and financial position oi tho city. He could nut believe that the Miramar Iwrough's rates were Ic.s.s flian those of the city. The borough's unimproved value an compared with the city's unimproved value was certainly in a ve"ry favourable position because the city had put a tremendous amount of capital value on itfl unimproved sections. JUr. Luke submitted the following table showing the comparisons between JCniori, Ons" low, and the city ■in the matter of rating:-*-Unim. proved Capital Value. Value. Kates. „ . ■ ■£ & J! s. d. Ivarorl 20U 8(10 il7 i 300 1000 7 1 6 Onslow-— Khandallah 20(1 800 317 3 '300 ,1000 5 8 5 Ngaio "00 800 3IS 7 300 1000 55 i Wellington— Kolburn. Hataitai, Island Bay 200 80u il7 11 300 11)01) 615 6 Wadestcwn 200 800 il2 G 300 1000 li 7 0 The fact of the mailer, added Mr. Luke, was that "Wellington was in a particularly gratifying position. Hn hoped that Win wisest counsels would prevail, and that the borough would come into line as soon as it could.

Councillor 11. P. Luckie wanted to blow whether it was a fact that the city had agreed lo supply Miramar with water, at the rate of Oil. per lOflO callous in perpetuity. A statement lo Hint effect had been iiiade ; by (lie Mayor of Mirama.r. If tllie position was as sWJwI then it was most extraordinary, and seemed to.show a lack of foresight'.oji the part of the City Council when the agreement was adopted. The Mayor «aid the matter would be looked into. The report was adopted.