PETONE & HUTT COUNCILS MEET

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 32, 8 February 1922, Page 8

PETONE & HUTT COUNCILS MEET

NEW GAS AGREEMENT SIGNED

AND SEALED

The work of a- joint committee, set up at,a conference of the Petone and Hutt Borough Councils some weeks ago, to draw up an a-greoment between the two bodies in regard to setting up an independent board to take over the Petone gasworks in the interests of the whole district, was brought to a fruition last evening when tho two councils met again at Lower Hutt and signed and sealed an agreement. • The conference was presided over by Dr. J. Mason, who said the meeting ought to go down in history. The two councils had come, not to the parting of the ways, but the joining' of the ways, which ho prophesied was the beginning of much bigger things for the Hutt Valley. Mr. J. W. M'Ewan, Mayor of Petone, said it was with great pleasure he was there to put the finishing touches on an agreement which the councils had decided should bo entered into in the interests of both boroughs. What had been done waa' a big step forward to th 6 unity of both boroughs. If he had not believed that, he questioned whether he would have taken the stand he had done. If the two boroughs were not ultimately to be completely united it would not have been worth while fighting for the present agreement. Too long the district had spoken with divided voice, and too often the powers that be had 'taken advantage of such division. The agreement entered into was absolutely fair to both parties. (Cheers.). Mr. W. T. Strand said the agreement was a fair .and equitable arrangement between two sections of the community that would soon be one. In arriving at its decision, the committee had .not taken a formal or local view .of the matter. Before long he hoped to see. a, joint gravitation water scheme considered. The valley had a great birthright in the Hutt River, and it was the duty of the local bodies to see that it was conserved for the people of the valley. A ' suburban line of rails was also needed, running from Wellington through Petone, and right through the centre of the Hutt Valley, tapping the whole district, making it available for settlement by Wellington, people, who would in the valley be nearer the city than residents of Karori and Island Bay. It was a shame that cows should be milked on land which w;ould house thousands, and stop the awful overcrowding in the Empire City. Dr.' Mason paid a tribute to the comriiittee and, especially, to the two solicitors, who "had done much to bring about a settlement. Mr. R. 0. Kirk, solicitor to the Petone Council, and Mr. Bunny, solicitor to the Lower Hutt Council, also spoke. Mr. Strand said he desired to ackaqwledge the very impartial manner in which the press had dealt with tho question through the whole negotiations,; and also desired to move a very hearty vote of thanks to their very able chairman, who had been of wonderful assistance in the negotiations. The motion was seconded by Mr. M'Ewan, and carried with acclamation. Dr. Mason again expressed the hope that some day, if there was not complete amalgamation, there' would be conjoint control of gas, water, sewage, and transpprtation. / A social gathering which followed concluded with the singing of "Auld Lang S}^." ,