HANDS OFF THE SMALL BOROUGHS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 254, 21 July 1920, Page 7

HANDS OFF THE SMALL BOROUGHS

Sir, —Xt'iß to be hoped that those who are fortunate chough to live in the Hutt Valley will keep their eyes open, and watch carefully the octopus-like des're of the Mayor of Wellington and others who are enstinpr envious eyes on our fer< tile Hutt Valley io try to bring it into tho city area, which, speaking from.au .owner's or resident's point of view, is the last thing to be desired. Almost in tho same breath as-he (tho Mayor) expresses the desire to absorb tho adjacent boroughs, he talks of tho need of ,being able to £7f. legislation to allow of striking higher rates. To my way of think' inpr, the Hutt Valley has very , little to gain, and possibly much to lose, by bein if joined to the city. The city's dectrie light nnd traction plant, has as much, or more, to do than it can carry out. The same applies in many other respects; a lot of its roads are anything but a striking example of what tliev should be, as witness tho roads between the General Post Office and tho Thorndon station.

When the Government's electrio scheme is in force, the Hutt Valley nnd adjacent district will be able to be served as cheaply and as well, and possibly far better, than from the city. Speaking as a resident of the Lower ;Hutt Borough, I sincerely hopo that tho .'residents of the Hutt Valley will opposa •with all their might any attempt to compel the Hult Borough to amalgamate with Wellington City, until such a timo as a scheino is submitted to them that l will give conclusive proof of any mutual 'benefit to be derived by w> doing, nnd that the hopo of some temporary benefit in electric traction or otherwise, mar not tempt them to sacrifico their rights in this <l : slrict which, in tho very near future, will cariT a huge population who will wish to conduct their own local affaire, with the same freedom as they now enjoy.—l am, otc., HUTT RESIDBKX,