LOCAL BODY UNION

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 204, 26 May 1936, Page 5

LOCAL BODY UNION

Petone Representatives To Attend Conference

Although the step was sl , ’ OUS !‘L t . posed by two councillors, the I ctoirn Borough Council last night decided to send .three delegates to a coiiteii.ua t discuss amalgamation ot local bodu.s in the Hutt Valley. The diseu.-s on piovoked verbal skirmishes betuan lhMayor, Mr. A. Scholefield, and Ct. J. n ’nw l 'Lower Hutt Borough Council asked that three representatives be appointed to a conference ot local bodiu to consider amalgamation of all <>r some of the bodies in the valley distuct « th a view to submitting a scheme to th.. Government. Cr. .1. Huggan moved that the klt be received and no action taken. He la•■■one very deeply into the subject m tin last 15 days and had found tlmt I’etone was going to have all the l.ab. Titles .ua none of the assets, lhe Hutt < Dower Board, "the only money spinner in the district,” had declined to artend tin. conference. • in "Until we have the money spiuneis^ r we should not play,” he declare!. . we are going to have amalgamation of local bodies we want all in 01 none. W have everything, to lose and nothin,, co ”' l Cr. il D. l AL Dickson seconded ibe mot inn. Detune had nothing to gain fron ‘ proposal. If amalgamation was leally desired there was a better way to a o nb The Mayor moved that three delegates be sent to the conference, but on th*, understanding (hat the not to be carried out immediately by tn • Government. He thought the considered opinion of the conference should bereported back to-the local bodies and it could then be put on a ballot paper to be voted on by the ratepayers. "Those opposing this, conieretice ar. taking a short-sighted view of the ques- • tion,” said Cr. E. T. E. Hogg, in seconding the amendment. "By standing aloo. we will gain nothing.” The Hutt Valley Dower Board, ia standing out of the conference had it reasons. One was that its area did not u anv way correspond with that of the other local bodies concerned. All other bodies invited would be represented. Ihe move for amalgamation was the strongest ye. made and had the approval of the Minister. Cr. G. London and Cr. J- Cumming supported the amendment. Cr. Cumming said that all the other bodies invited would attend the conference, except the power board. Dower boards, however would probably be taken over by the Government in time, judging from the view's expressed about there being too many boards bv Cabinet Ministers. He said the council’s delegates would not be at the conference io pledge it.be borough but I' l hear the discussion and report back. Cr W. 11. Edwards supported amalgamation. He considered, however, that it should be general, taking in Upper Hutt and Eastbourne. The issue, too, should be put to the ratepayers before being acted upon. Councillor Called to Order. Cr Huggan, replying to the discussion, asserted that he had known eight days ago what the decision of the council was going to be and who was going to represent Lower Hutt and Detone . Cr. Cumming said no witch into filiation could have been gathered. Cr. Huggan: 1 will write their names on a paper for you now. The Mayor asked councillors to keep to the point. Cr. Huggan said the conference was being jincketl to tiring about amalgamation. He said he was not opposed U amalgamation, but considered it should cover all bodies from the Brown Owl to the boundary of the AVellington City Council. . The Mayor: You have no right to say the meeting is going to be packed. . Cr. Huggan : I even heard that you are to be the first mayor. (Laughter.) The Mayor: Oh, don't talk like that. Cr. Huggan : AVell, rumour may be a lying jade, sir, but where there’s smoke there's fire, you know. (Renewed laughter.) . , , „ , The amendment was carried by five votes to two. The Mayor and Crs. Cumming and Hogg were nominated as the delegates. Cr. Huggan: That iw what we were told last week in Lower Hutt. The Mayor: I don't care what you were told. Cr. Huggan: I told Cr. Dickson they were going to he the delegates last TuesCr. Cumming said no one could have known thgt he was going to be a delegate because he did not know himself. Cr. Huggan : AVe got those three names in a tobacconist's shop in Lower Hutt. Cr. Cumming: Most of us don't lake too much notice of what we hear in tobacconists’ shops. If they named me they were guessing. Cr. Huggan: AVe got those three names when we got the first winner. (Laugh-ter-l , . , The suggested delegation was approved. Cr. Hogg suggested that the delegates, should be empowered to pledge the borough to a share of the cost of having brought up to date the report on amalgamation, which at present dealt with the subject only up to 1929. Cr. Huggan began to speak in opposition to this proposal and was asked to sit down by the Mayor. Cr. Huggan : No, 1 won’t sit down. I am opposed to this idea. The Mayor: AVho is controlling this meeting? Cr. Huggan: You are, of course. The Mayor: AVell, then, you respect my rulings. The Mayor was about to put the question to the vote when an objection was raised by Cr. Huggan. "Aren’t we going to be allowed to discuss this?” he asked. The Mayor: Of course you are. You know that. Cr. Huggan : Then let me have a go. I want to speak-. Tlie Mayor: A'ery well, then, but speak to the point. Cr. Huggan said that he was in favour of the report, which was a good one, being brought up to date, but the council should not be asked to bear the cost. The Mayor: Only share the cost, you know. Cr. Huggan said there was "a lot of hole and corner business” about the amalgamation 'proposal. The Mayor: You are making charges which you cannot support. Cr. Huggan: AA’hat 1 say is right, though. The Mayor, in reply to a question, said that the cost of the preparation of the previous report had been shared by the local bodies interested. The motion was carried.