KARORI AND THE CITY

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 114, 11 November 1919, Page 11

KARORI AND THE CITY

THE PROPOSED AMALGAMATION

NO CONDITIONS.

The suggestion amalgamation between Karori and the city again came under the notice of the City Council yesterday afternoon, when Messrs. B. G. H. Burn (Mayor of Karori) and J. W. Henderson waited on the- Finance Committee to seek further information concerning the proposal, which the City Council had already decided should be unconditional.

Mr. Burn said that the object of the deputation, in view of. the.unconditional terms, was to receive answers to certain questions which he would place before the council, and then subsequently submit the result to the residents of the borough. On the following questions he would like to have some idea—(l) What would be done with the tramways revenue, and if the residents would .still bs liable for the interest and sinking fund of 'the tramway' loans without any help from the revenue derived, aud what would be done with the £4788 replacement fund?

■ The,.Mayor.{Mr. J. P. Luke) said that there was a loss of £4376 on' the trams, and a special rate" had to be struck on this account.

Mr. Burn said this-was not the case. The amount included road-widening and other matters. Mr. Henderson also supported this ■ statement.

Mr. .Luke pointed out that/he was going by the statement which had been prepared for him. If Karori did come in. they would be out to serve its best interests. . . ■ ■ ■ :■ The second question put by Mr, Burn was: Would -the building area be the same as now, or would it be reduced, and to What extent?

Mr. Luke: "We shall go in for townplanning in the best interests of '"the city.'" . •

The next question was: Would the ratepayers be faced with ..g^share of the cost of maintenance of the Hutt-road, seeing that the Karori borough obtained legislation to be excluded? ■ Mr. Luke: "If you come in unconditionally, then there are certain to be no special rates at all. It is for the council to determine how far it will meet you in these matters. If Parliament had accepted the Bill, then special rates would not exist. There would be one general rater all over the city. Under present conditions you would be responsible for your own special rates."

Mr. Burn: "AYe would have to bear a part of the city's burdens?"

Mr. Luke said that he could not conceive amalgamation on terms, nor could he conceive the borough council setting up conditions at all, as the advantages to be gained by amalgamation were obvious.

The fourth question, was : What would be the intention of the city with regard to the fivo sections at the Rigi, now .the property, of the borough?

At this stage Mr. Luke said that it would be better to submit the questions in writing to the City Coimcil for an. answer. He was only expressing his opinion. The interests of Karori would have to be looked after with the rest of the city. Regarding the last question, he did not think it worthy.-of an answer.

During some discussion which followed, Mr. Lake said that he abominated petty differences. There was a cleavage between Karori and Northland.

Mr. Henderson : "We did not cause the cleavage." ' Mr. Luke said the Karori Borough's trams were, a white elephant; and the whole hurdle \v.as the tramway question, Finally the' deputation was informed that the. matter would be discussed, on Thursday evening..