AMALGAMATION.

Gisborne Times, Volume X, Issue 1006, 26 September 1903, Page 3

AMALGAMATION.

BOROUGH LOAN PROPOSALS,

DISCUSSED BY WHATAUPOEO BOARD.

At the meeting of the Whataupoko Road Board yesterday the question of amalgamation with the Borough was discussed at some length. Mr Sievwright said that in view of

the appointment of Mr E. C. GoldSmith as Commissioner to go into the subject of amalgamation, the Board ought to take some action. He suggested that the members of the Haiti Road Board should be conferred with, and that they should try and come to some definite arrangements as to what they should submit to the Commissioner.

The Chairman said that as far es he was concerned—and he thought a great number of people were with him -he would propose nothing that would commit them to amalgamation withont a vote of the people. The matter was entirely in the hands of the people of VVhataupoko and Kaiti, and the only satisfactory way to deal with it was to take a vote on the question. Mr Lysnar : There is no necessity to take a vote. Ihe ratepayers of Whautaupoko have already agreed—more than fifty per cent, of them have signed the petition. Mr Sievwnght: Why not have a meeting of the people in favor of it ? Mr O’Connell : A great number are against it; they say they do not want amalgamation. Mr Matthews: If Igo by the number who are against it, then there are a great number. Mr Sievwright: I think the conditions are a great deal altered since we co:

msidered the matter two years ago. I am not altogether as strong as I was upon the subject, and I think when the matter is investigated there will be found no reason against it. The Chairman said the Public Works Act, with its limit of three miles outside a borough, affected the question tremendously. People in cutting up their land could not metal hill roads at £6 a chain.

Mr Sievwright: Let us meet and thresh it out, because if we do not we shall have the Commissioner taking his own line. I should not mind leaving

_ it to him, provided the actual facts were before him.

Mr Matthews: I shall do my utmost to get a poll taken on the question, both in Whataupoko and Kaiti. Mr Sievwright: We must have a definite thing before the Commissioner.

Mr Matthews: We must have no after regrets. The proposals must be put to the ratepayers, and they must say “No’’ or “Yes,” just as they have done in regard to water and drainage. How unsatisfactory it would have been if the ratepayers of the Borough had not a voice in the question decided on Wednesday. I am going on the broad principle that in those local matters the people must have the final say. Mr Lysnar thought the best course was for the local bodies interested to decide the matter amongst thomselves, instead of fighting it out before the Commissioner. They should not allow tho question of people cutting up land in the outlying portions of tho districts mentioned to influence the quostion. They could not retard the thickly-settled parts to suit those which wero far away. The question of amalgamation had boon looming in the distanco for a long time, and the need of it was retarding tho progress of the district.

The Chairman said that if people wore not able to cut up their land the progress of the district would bo retarded.

Mr Sievwright said it was hardly necessary to go into the question of tho outlying portions referred to, a 3 they would not affect them one way or the other, it being quite distinct from amalgamation. It was agreed to hold a special meeting on Wednesday next to consider the question.