MIRAMAR AND THE CITY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 32, 1 November 1919, Page 9

MIRAMAR AND THE CITY

Mlt. S. if. STONE Klil'LlES TO MR. LUIiE. In reply to. the comments made by llic Mayor oi' Wellington (Mr. J. P. Luke) at tho last meeting of tho City Council or, tho. sr.biect of the amalgamation of Minimal' borough with the city, tho Mayor of Miramar (Mr. S. 31. Stono) made a statement yesterday which ho hopes will correct a wrong inference being drawn by the public.

"In the first place," said Mr. Stone, "I would like to emphasiso the frioiullj spirit whicli has always existed between tho city and the borough, mid which I hop© will continue to exist, but, in order to remove any false impressions that may unintentionally have been created in tho minds of citizens of Wellington and residents of Miraniar, I must take exception to certain remarks made by tho Mayor of the city. Dealing with tramways, Mr. "Luko may havo forgotten that .in order to get connection with tho city's system, tho borough had to lay down some 77 chains of tramway truck within tho'city. Tho city subsequently purchased that section at 75 per cent, of ita cost. Regarding water supply tho borough had to pay the whole cost of bringing tho water up to tho city boundary. In respect to drainage tho city certainly allows tho borough to make uso of tho outfall sewer, but charges tho full amount tho borough would have to pay if it constructed its own outfall works. As to lighting tho oily has dono nothing more for tho borough than it is required to do under the agreement, inado between tho borough and tho city's predecessors, tho Now Zealand Electrical Syndicate. With regard to tho rates I have never contended that the borough rating was less than tho c-ity, but what I do maintain is that with the unconditional amalgamation tho rates would be about 25 per cent, higher than at present. Tho above remarks, I think, fairly answorj tho points mado by Mr. Luke. In conclusion, I am quife at a loss to know what Mr. Luke means by his references to propaganda work. Tho council has no knowledge of any attempt to influence tho residents on the question of amalgamation. Consideration of the question originated in the borough, and was not t.he result of overtures on the part of the city. Personally I feel sure that it will bo admitted that the matter is one for negotiation, and not for a blind leap in the dark on tho part of the borough."