THE MERGING QUESTION.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 257, 30 April 1912, Page 4

THE MERGING QUESTION.

The thanks of the community are due to the member for the district (Mr. Okey) for endeavoring to bridge the gap between the burgesses of St. Aubyn and the Borough Council in connection with the merging question. If the result of last night's meeting is any index, his efforts must bear fruit in the immediate future. As he pointed out, the present unsatisfactory position—each side with its dagger drawn to strike at the other—has been brought about by mutual misunderstanding, and once this is cleared, as it can be easily enough if wise counsel is allowed to prevail, the Greater New Plymouth scheme should soon be completed, and the installation of the tramways be then considered. Mr. Okey's proposal is to add Moturoa to the former area, and petition the Gover-nor-in-€ouncil to have the districts declared part of the borough. The necessity for taking a. poll is. obviated if there is a majority of ratepayers to the petition. There should be no difficulty about this. Nearly everyone in the room last night signed the petition, and so will every other ratepayer who is alive to his own interests and the progress of the district. The case for merging is overwhelmingly strong, and now that light has been thrown on some points obscured to a majority of the burgesses at the poll the other week, there should be little or no opposition to the latest proposal.