AMALGAMATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 287, 28 August 1920, Page 8

AMALGAMATION

MEETING AT SEATOUN-

Last night, at a well-attended public meeting held in tho Masonic Hall, beatoun, the feeling manifested by almost everyone present was wholly in favour of the proposal to amalgamate Miramar witli tiie eitv. Mr. John Brudie, who occupied the chair, said that there was a very different :si.de to the question ot amalgamation from that put forward by the Mayor (Mr. Stone) on Thursday even"well charged with fac's and' instances, speeches were made by Councillor J. 31. Dale (of Mr. J. Caugh ey (nf Kami), and Mr. John 0 Shea (Citj Solicitor), by whom several questions bearing on debatable points were answered Mr. Stone's address was submitted to criticism, and his statements challenged in detail. .. , In the course of his remarks. Mr. -A. W Parton, of Miramar, said: \Ye have among us those who will never be convinced even by. facts. Continually we hear, 'Will our rates go up? What, wi; the city do more than we can dor Win the citv guarnntco to do this and that. The city last year collected in Onslow ;L5 less rates than Onslow did the year previously. The city spent .£1558 on roads last year. Onslow spent J2llOO the previous year. How or why did they do it? It cost Onslow nearly one-third of its income to spend it. The difference of .£l5B represents salaries to the staff ot their high- overhead as against the city's overhead. The result was better roads immediately. The city took over the Onslow borough staff, and to those officers granted the benefit of superannuation.' Could we grant superannuation to pur officers? The position at present would not allow it, nor would'it bo popular. The city bought out of revenue 108 acre 3 at approximately per acre (a fotiil of -£3500) in Khandnliah for a garden suburb. It also bought 12} acres .in the -heart of the district for a recreation ground. At Npaio Station it bought three-quarters of an acre for a small rest park and-reserve. Thirty acres in the R"uio Gorge were purchased for a scenic reserve, all out of revenue. The Onslow borough Had a catchment area or park, but couldn't do anything with it. 10-dny over 100,000 small trees .ire growing in a fine scenic reserve, tended by a resident caretaker in a houso thoroughly renovated by the City Engineer's department. Picture the same treatment to our Miramar Park, that lovely picnio ground our Mayor hopes to see established; and please note-it may be done out of revenue, not a special loan." At the conclusion of tho meeting a resolution was enthusiastically passed favouring amalgamation with the city.