BOROUGH MERGER

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 107, 30 January 1935, Page 4

BOROUGH MERGER

Upper Hutt Mayor’s View When invited to comment on the amalgamation question the Mayor of Upper Hutt, Mr. A. .1. McCurdy, said yesterday that the matter between Lower Hutt and Petone was a domestic one, which should have been settled long ago. “I have no comment to make beyond saying that two bodies of intelligent citizens should realise that there is no necessity for a dual staff —office, engineer, and outside—for an area which is naturally intended for one municipality. “I have always had in mind.” Mr. McCurdy continued, "the constitution of the Metropolitan Board nf Works and the London County Council being applicable to the four base centres of New Zealand, and all movements should have as their ultimate aim a somewhat similar constitution. A great outcry has been made of the additional burden which might be imposed upon rural areas under such a constitution, but it is manifest that the expensive upkeep of road construction, and maintenance could be more efficiently and economically carried out under the direction of one controlling engineering unit. It was similar in respect to water supply and sewerage works where increase of population made it desirable or necessary.” Asked if he would be prepared to join in the amalgamation scheme, Mr. McCurdy said he "would not lihve it on his mind, for the interests of Upper Hutt were not identical with those of Lower Hutt and Petone. "This is practically a residential area with further developments extending into the valley of the Mungaroa and Akatarawa on the * northern hill-slopes toward Paliautanui,” he said. “Lower Hutt and Petone will probably develop into industrial areas, th® land in larger blocks being not too expensive when compared with Wellington. Wellington itself will be possibly as unsuitable for residential purposes as the city of London. In fact I have more than once referred to it as the future port of Upper Hutt. Naturally Upper Hutt being at the head of the valley claims the ability to think of the future,” Mr. McCurdy concluded.