Wairewa Council Would Consider Amalgamation

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31519, 6 November 1967, Page 21

Wairewa Council Would Consider Amalgamation

Amalgamation was discussed at length by the Wairewa County Council on Friday after a letter had been received from the Akaroa County Council. The letter said the Akaroa council felt the time was opportune to reopen the discussions on amalgamation among the Mount Herbert. Wairewa and Akaroa counties. The Wairewa council decided to write to Akaroa saying it was taking no action on the letter. But in a separate motion it was decided to write another letter to Akaroa saying that Wairewa might in the fu'ure consider a bigger amalgamation. He thought the Akaroa council’s letter merited some thought because the smaller counties were going to amalgamate, and parts of them were in any case, being absorbed into the city boundaries all the time, said the chairman (Cr W. 8. L. McRae). | Cr T. D. Barwick said a poll on amalgamation had been held about three years ago and the ratepayers had turned it down, "so let’s leave it at that.”

“1 think it is a waste of time," Cr P. N. Ussher said.

Cr Barwick: We are one of the few counties that has not got a huge debt. How long do we staj’ in this happy position if we amalgamate? Cr Mcßae: That our rates are reasonable at the time does not mean that they will stay that way. Cr Ussher moved that the council receive Akaroa's letter “and leave it at that.” Cr Barwick seconded the motion. Cr J. N. Buckland said that if Wairewa amalgamated with Akaroa there would then be two counties “out on a limb.” Cr Mcßae asked if the council would be interested in any amalgamation on a bigger scale. Cr Auckland said the council might reply that if other councils would

take Wairewa in, Akaroa could come in too. The council had to "consider reopening the discus I sion on almost the same basis as before, said Cr Mcßae. Cr K. H. Parkinson said he could see that Akaroa did not want to be left out on a limb.

Cr Ussher: If someone comes up with a bigger amalgamation later we could look at it, but at the moment we should answer the letter as it is. The motion that the Akaroa council be told Wairewa would take no action was passed. After some discussion it I I was decided to write the second letter to Akaroa. Cr Mcßae: There is a lot of merit in amalgamation, hut it takes a lot of working out We do not want to wipe it right out of our minds because it will come—hut it will be a big amalgamation.