AMALGAMATION

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 10, 31 July 1930, Page 9

AMALGAMATION

MR MeEWAIT'S VIEWS

Perhaps no one in the Hutt Valley, is better qualified than Mr J. W. McEwan for twenty years mayor of Petone, and for some years prior to that a borough councillor to speak on the supbject of the amalgamation of the Petone and Lower Hutt boroughs. He has been prevailed upon to make a few general observations on the question. In doing so he lias made it plain that his desire is to-encourage discussion on the subject, for he is sensible of the fact that amalgamation is a tremendous step fraught with the gravest consequences to the population of both boroughs. He feels that nothing should be left undone by the authorities to provide the people with the opportunity for the fullest discussion.

I {t The question of amalgamating the boroughs of. Lower Hutt and Petone" said Mr McEwan 'has often been considered by the people, especially at election times and the two councils have held a conference upon the subject without any tangible results. The Hutt' Council in particular though the .time was not opportune at the time ana no doubt thought that the future would enable a more satisfactory bargain to be struck when the population of the Hutt Borough exceeded that of Petone." "I liave not yet seen the report which, has been submitted to the two councils. Doubtless the report will be considered by both very soon and I hope the discussions will be fully reported. OTHER POINTS OF VIEW "Apart from the financial aspect whieii I assume the report will mainly deal with, there are other points of view •worthy, of consideration. Far instance Petone has become a. very important industrial centre. On the other hanoi the Hutt's progress has been mainly on. the lines of providing homes f ov the people. The Hutt }& industrial area will be made more use of in. the future, but, business results wil be of more benefit to Petone than to the Hutt. THE FUTURE ' ( Visualising the future,' ' continued Mr McEwan, "why should Petone share its best asset—the sea frontage —with ' the Lower Hutt 1 The development now i under consideration will make Petone, a* ' Mr Odlin has-said, 'the Brighton of New Zealand.' : . ... -^ j "Petone has always been and will continue to be, the principal business centre of the'valley. It is the almost universal experience that cities develop'from a centre that possesses natural advantages such as a sea frontage, industries, etc. Wellington is an example of this tend-' eney. What may happen in the future ifl the absorption by Petone of that portion of the Hutt Borough west of the river— which would form a natural boundary. The western hills will be built upon and Petone will have a civic area greater than Lower Hutt. Already Petone has over 500 acres of land readily accessible ; through Koto Koro and Maungaraki set- j tlementsw The idea that more efficiency ; can be obtained by larger civic administrations anoi lower costs ie largely fallacious. London has 2s. boroughs and a, county council dealing with.,the big questions such as tramways and water Ripply. Practically we are following the same lines. Our. Hutt and Petone Gas Board and Butt-Valley Power Board are examples oi this. Railways;and buses are Government concerns. Watej- supply at present is cheaply obtained from artesian flows but who can ' say that the future will not see the boroughs going with the city of Wellington to obtain supplies from the upper reaches of the I Hutt Valley? VIRTUE OF. CO-OPERATION "If their) water supplies, buses and ' trains, gas and electricity are obtained by the co-operative methodl, and I may add the surfacing of pur streets, why deprive the people ,of the advantage of being in close touch with what really .concerns them? Of course, they may have their ratepayers' associations and leagues of one sort or another, but they scarcely interest, the majority of electors. Local patriotism may have some < .bad qualities, but there is much that: could be said in its favour. "'' The man who takes an interest in his town's affairs is a better cifczen. than one who feels he is only a cog in the wheel of a big municipal machine which may develop tendency to become a proletarian dictatorship."

LOWER HUTT COURT.

The fortnightly sitting of the Lower. Hutt Magistrate's Court was held last week, before Messrs G. A. Chapman and P. Feist, J.P. '5..../_. './... Penalties of 10s each were inflicted on C. "Hoare, P-. Hayes, C. Brice, A. Sopworth, A. E. Mclndoe, E. McSherry, F. R^ Craven, C. Green, B. Askew, B. S. Muirhead, P. Poli, and P. M. Moran; 15s on W. Hart and V. Searle and 5s on P. Rea for riding bicycles at night without lights. For riding bicycles on the bitumen surface A. Wilson, W. G-. Holgate, and W. T. Wright were each fineGi 10s, and W. R. Barber and P. Rea each to pay costs only. Exceeding the speed limit in motor vehicles cost M. Magnus £2, N. V. Phillips and* V. G. Cottle each £1 and R. Baker £4. ±". Xi. Laurenson, for obstructing a traffic officer, by refusing to move a car when so instructed was fined 10s. Judgment for the plaintiffs by default was given in the following cases: —A. E. Parkin v. T. H. Hall £1 0s 3d; A. E. Parkin v. E. Thompson 10s 3aj W. Moss and Co. v. J. Whittaker £2 9s 3d; S..A.- Barnard v. T. Mclvor £1 , Ward and Rawnsley v. W. J /nith £11 2s; W. J. P. Dicks v. D. Meßvren 10s; T. Waugh and Son v. H. G. Nickols £3 10s 2d; Ward and Rawnsley v. M. yon Zedlitz £3 3s 3d; Clen&on Bros, v. L. M. Shaw 14s; W. J. Hutchinson v. W. A. Rose £3 10s 6d; Cook and Cook v. J. H. Johnson £3 14s 9d; R. Y. Shearer and Co. v. J. Clegg £3 14s lid; T. W. Slinn v .R. Kite £4 12s sd; Lower Hutt Borough Council v. J. D. Smith £8 18s Id.