THE WASHING-UP BILL AND EASTBOURNE BOROUGH

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

THE WASHING-UP BILL AND EASTBOURNE BOROUGH

Bir.-UMlcr the present law no two boroughs can amalgamate, unless, contiguous. Eastbourne, situated as it. is on the other side of the harbour, is divided from tlio city by Petono borough and Hutt county. , , It has been publicly announced fual n clause is to be inserted in the Washingup Bill removing the legal disability, thus nink'ing it permHsible lor welling; ton and Eastbourne tu aninlsninulc. ' Kir, on hchsilf ut Hie majority (it Wis Eastbourne ratepayers, who arc opposed to amalgamation, I ash at whoso instigation is this clause being inserted in ttio Washing-up Bill. His A\orship Hie Mayor of Eastbourne, on the public platioim, announced, prior to his election, hat Ijp was not In favour of-amalgamation-at present. If I remember correctly, tin cave it as his opinion that I'nc borougn should, for a iiuniber of yeara all least, continue to work out its own salvation. Vet ho is onlv in office a few months when he beeins to "mala- inquiries. Lutil the result of those mumries is publicly announced to those most intimately eon'eerned (the Eastbourne ratepayers there is no reason for tins hany attempt to alter the law. Further, the attempt to do so by the back-door method fit a Washing-up Hill is wrong m principle. The matter is of such importance generally that Parliament should refuse n p.i«s the clause and insist* on the subject being dealt with by a special lii.l, when everything would be properly ventilated. The promoters of the scheme, who are the minority of the Eastbourne ratepayers, have gone abouli Hus question ns if cvirvtbine connected therewith -worn a foregone conclusion, bat they will find it is not fa. It is of course understood that flic cfiy wou'd welcome (lie aninTgannition of Eastbourne with its valuable ferry and Oman's Valley j'sets. I trust Parliament will *?e. to it tlinli tins matter is 'held over till next session and dealt with in a proper manner—l am, etC '' C. G. W. TUCHA'RDS. Eastbourne, (lecher 39. 1310.