MIRAMAR AND THE CITY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 288, 30 August 1920, Page 4

MIRAMAR AND THE CITY

THE AMALGAMATION PROPOSAL. The final meeting before the poll on the amalgamation option ivns held nt the power-station, Jliramar, on Saturday evening, when tlio Mayor (Mr. S. 51. Stone) addressed a gathering, which was all tco large for tho seating accommodation available. Planks, boxes, etc., had to bo requisitioned for those who could not obtain proper seats.. Mr. Stone dealt seriatim with the points raised at the meeting held .at Seatoun on Friday night by supporters of amalgamation, and emphasised the fact that the speakers from Onslow and Karori failed to realise that the position of Miramar was entirely different from that of either Onslow or Karori, which had no public services, practically no debt, and hence no special rates worth mentioning. He answered the argument that in amalgamation Miramar residents would get a five-section tram faro nt the same rate as Karori, pointing out that the difference in distance was nearly two miles in Ivarori's favour.

Mr. A. D. Crawford expressed his antagonism to the proposal to amalgamate, and Mr. R. G. Reed spoke strongly against the tactics of the supporters of amalgamation in advertising that if the proposal were carried the consolidation of the city's and the borough's special rates would reduce those in the latter district by 50 per cent. He pointed out that, the Bill recently before Parliament to allow of this consolidation had been shelved, and might never bo, passed— yet' the advertisement mentioned the matter as though it were an established fact.

Several other speakers addressed tho meeting, which carried unanimously a resolution that the time is not opportune for tlio borough to amalgamate with the city.

The poll on tho question of amalgamation is to be taken to-day.