The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 1884. AMALGAMATION.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1612, 18 February 1884, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. MONDAY FEBRUARY 18, 1884. AMALGAMATION.

The question of County amalgamation hais licen again raised. Mr Golemax Phiuii'S having tuMcil a notice of motion to consider ii at the next meeting of tho West County Council. We do not always agree with Mr Phillips, but on this particular point we are one with him. We regard amalgamation as the test question for the public men of this district, We do not know a single public man who on broad grounds lias over argued against it. On tho last occasion when it was brought before'the public its principal opponent was Mr Booth. This gentleman did not venture to determine it on any high grouud. He treated the question merely a3 one of expediency and sacrificed the welfare of tho district to local considerations, Mr 'Booth has been a very useful public man in the Wairarapa, but he certainly forfeited the confidence of a good many of the leading settlers in this district by .the course he adopted on that occasion. There are large interests in the Wairarapa which cannot be entrusted to Road Boards.; An intermediate body is required between the Road'Board;and.the,Government, and we have always held that this body should be an amalgamated county. , We believe that if the .leading men of the Wairarapa would only set heartily, to work amalgamation might be speedily accomplished. Unfortunately a general election is coming on, and Bomo half-dozen of i those gentlemen who regard themselves as the future, representative of. the district are too apt to treat it from an election point of view. We hayo. no hesitation in saying that the man who will not decide a;',question;which must materially affect the whole of the . Wairarapa district on its merits, without beiiig biassed by personal considerations'as to how it will affect the candidature, of himself, is altogether unworthy of public confidence. Amalgamation is the premiei local question in •this'district, and some day it will no 'doubt come about. The man who carries; amalgamation and unites the Wairarapa in one.Council will be its greatestbenefdctoi l .'