CITY AMALGAMATION

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 47, 25 August 1919, Page 10

CITY AMALGAMATION

10 THE EDITOR. Sir, —I was much interested to read the remarks made-by the Mayor of Wellington with regard.to the proposed extension ,of- the city's water scheme. I was also very much interested to read about the Northland development and the proposed' tramway ovei the tunnel. I have been wondering where-Karori is to come in in connection with these important plans. I notice the Mayor remarked that "it is a ' pity that the adjacent boroughs which are •contemplating the spending of money on water schemes which may be of a more or less temporary nature are not prepared- to join up with this larger and more reliable scheme." I have been wondering if these remarks were intended by any chance for Karori.' Six councillors were elected four months ago on the present council for the express purpose of pushing amalgamation with the city, but although I know these gentlemen are earnest and enthusiastic, I have not been able to learn that their efforts have met with any success up till the present time. lam satisfied the fault does not lie with them, but I feel that some adverse influence is at work.

The present Mayor was also elected' after having definitely pledged himself in favour of amalgamation. ' Now although the Mayor of. Karori and six councillors were elected on the single issue of forwardingamalgamation we are apparently very little further than before the election, and yet we have the Mayor of Wellington deploring the reluctance of adjacent boroughs to connect up with, the city schemes.' It seems to me there is some unseen obstruction somewhere.

Is it too much to ask the Mayor of Karori t,o take the ratepayers a little into his confidence and make a progress report, if indeeu there is any progress to report. If not, the ratepayers look to him to show us who is responsible for the obstruction. The Eastbourne Borough Council has been considering the subject for a much shorter time than Karori, andl yet we find it is already mafung the necessary arrangements for taking a poll. I am also much disappointed to see when an excellent opportunity presents itself for securing a shorter route to the city that no action is taken by Kaori. Two things are required to make Karori one of the most popular residential places any where near Wellington, viz., a water and drainage system and shorter access to the city, but at the present rate of progress only a modern Methuselah will live to see their accomplishment.—• I am, etc., WILFRID SKEGG. ! 21st August.