Counties Plan To Amalgamate

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30294, 21 November 1963, Page 14

Counties Plan To Amalgamate

The Heathcote and Mount Herbert County Councils are planning to amalgamate. A joint statement issued yesterday by the county chairmen (Messrs J. C. Holiiss and E. R. Radcliffe) said both councils were in favour of amalgamation providing agreement could be reached on all important administrative matters.

; Negotiations began about '! six weeks ago when the Mount Herbert council approached the Heathcote council and asked to join the county. Two joint meetings were then held and the preliminary discussions resulted in the issue of yesterday’s statement. Both councils will discuss administration matters at their next meetings, after ; which a further statement I will be issued. i The Heathcote chairman I (Mr Holiiss) emphasised that ; amalgamation would not ; mean an increase in rates for 1 residents of the county. There would be a number of benefits for both counties he said. ‘‘Amalgamation would strengthen Heathcote's posi-1 tion in the event of any take- * over bid by the city and Mount Herbert would have the advantage of our administration—our engineers’ department, for instance,” said Mr Holiiss. “We would also be able to assist in getting more money

from the Roads Board for the up-grading of the 50-odd miles of unformed roads in the Mount Herbert county,” he said. Half of Mount Herbert’s present income went on road works. Amicable Discussions Asked whether he thought agreement could be reached on administrative matters, Mr Holiiss said: “Our discussions have been most amicable. On present indications there is nothing to prevent us amalgamating.” Mr Holiiss said the Mount Herbert county would most likely be divided into two ridings—“ Port Victoria and Port Levy’ have been suggested”—each with two members. This would increase the number of councillors on the Heathcote council to 12. “Very Optimistic” The Mount Herbert chairman (Mr Radcliffe) said that while nothing had been completed, he was very optim-l istic that a result could be achieved to the advantage of both counties. The county had been approached some time ago by the Akaroa and Wairewa councils with a view to amalgamation, but his council felt it would be wrong to align itself with councils "further out on the peninsula,” he said. “We have told Akaroa and Wairewa that our interests lay towards the city area and that is the reason we approached Heathcote,” said Mr Radcliffe. Development of the county had been seriously hampered by the lack of a good water supply and Heathcote had adequate water available, he said. The Mount Herbert county comprises 66 square miles and had 640 ratepayers. The Heathcote county covers 13 square miles with 7000 ratepayers.