Amalgamated Borough.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 184, 12 August 1901, Page 4

Amalgamated Borough.

\To the Editor of the Times.)

Sir, —The ratepayers of the Whatau-! poko road district will be asked this evening to express their opinion as to I the advisability or otherwise of arnal- j gainating with the borough for the purpose of having a voice in the proposed water and drainage schemes. In the event of an adverse vote, it will not necessarily follow that further action in the shape of a petition from the ratepayers will not be resorted to. It is to be hoped that the meeting will allow only solid arguments to convince them in their final decision, aud not be swayed by a red herring drawn across the scent in the shape of the time not being opportune, or that the formation of a borough iu Whataupoko in the near future might be advantageous. With regard to the former, what time could be more opportune than the present when those noble and necessary works are being promulgated, enabling us to assist fin moulding them with advantage. to ourselves ? Should we decide against

amalgamating and the borough elect to undertake them without our aid, then, when force of circumstances compels us, as. they inevitably will, to enter on similar lines, we will find what a real and alarming sacrifice it will be, in lieu of the problematical one wo are now asked to make. As to the formation of a Borough in Wliataupoko, I doubt if there is any heaven born political economist amongst us of sufficient sagacity to convince a majority of the Wliataupoko ratepayers of the advisability of such a step. Where does * Gisborne end and Wliataupoko comJ mence ? Where is there any diversity ’ of interests ? Gisborne is Wliatau- ! poko and Whataupoko is Gisborne. ■ What affects the one must affect the ! other ; if the contemplated works are necessary for Gisborne they are obviously necessary for Whataupoko also. Is it suggested to build a wall to sever us, or to erect an eight or tenwire barbed fence, to prevent our children going to school, or our business men following thoir vocations, or our wives and daughters purchasing j their supplies in the so-called feverstricken Gisborne ? Now, Mr Editor,

the community of interests is such that we must stand or fall with Gisborne, and it is imperative on us .in our own and the interests of humanity to form one united and influential city.—l am, etc., CIIAELES W. EEIIKIS.