EASTBOURNE AND THE CITY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 37, 7 November 1919, Page 8

EASTBOURNE AND THE CITY

Sir,—When (he clause in I he "Wash-ing-up" Bill which deals witill the proposal lo unile Eastbourne with Wellington wtis before Parliament yesterday, Mr. Luko is reported as having objected lo the amendment that a poll on the i|ucslion should be taken of Easlbourno ralepayers. Tho grounds for Mr, Luke's objection

aro stated as being "that tho city could not agree to allow Eastbourne to \olo itself into the cili.v without tho city's CUllfiCQt."

ilow disingenuous of Mr, I<uke. Bastbourne lias no wish to do anything of tho kind. Mr. Luke knows quite well that the amendment was added to tho clauso from Wie very opposite motive, i.e., to prevent Eastbourne being forced into the city against the wishes of the majority of tho ratepayers concerned. To be quite frank, Eastbourne does not seek amalgamation. The fact is that "propaganda woik" in reference to amalgamation commenced from the>city end soon after Wellington acquired the Day's Bay reserve, which is situated in llutt county. The fact that the Eastbourne borough possesses tlio valuable payable ferry service makes the project the most attractive, from the city's poiut of view, of all Mr. Luke's many amalgamation schemes. But, Eastbourne is not going to amalgamate—don't make any mistake about that. All that lias been done,. openly, up to the present is that "inquiries" have been made as to what benefits,, if any, would accrue to Eastbourne should it join the city. To that query no answer has yet lieeu given—is it till at there are no benefits? Still, a clauso is put into the "Wash-ing-up" 13ill making Eastbourne and tho city one contiguous area. To the very small minority jp Eastbourne who aro supporting Mr. Luke in this matter I lvould suggest that their energies could be better used in paying attention to borough affairs and trying to como to some understanding with Day's Bay and the other biiys on our side of the harbour.—l am, etc., MURITAI. November 5, 1919.