"GREATER NELSON"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 126, 24 November 1925, Page 9

"GREATER NELSON"

A SUGGESTED:-AMALGAMATION.

A move has been made by residents to the Tahunanui Town Dirtfict in the direction of amalgamation with Nelson City, but so far nothing definite has been decided by the council, the matter having been referred to'the responsible committee for further consideration.

Reporting to the council at its last meeting on the subject, the Town •Clerk (Mr. G. A. Edmonds) went into, considerable detail as to the legal position and the procedure to be followed in bringing about ah amalgamation of boroughs forming a continuous area, , i.e., the taking of a poll of electors in one of the boroughs affected, the formal lodging of a.petition with the GovernorGeneral, and the lodging of similar petitions by the other boroughs concerned, upon which, after due lapse of time, a I proclamation may be issued notifying I the joining of the boroughs. The Town Clerk expressed doubts over the proposal made by the Town Board that it should join in with Nelson City and retain its present rates, liability for loans, etc., and stated his opinion that if the amalgamation came about the new district would be liable for the same rates, general, separate and special, as were paid by city ratepayers. After uniting the district might be specially rated in respect of schemes for the particular benefit of the district. "Another question that would have to be considered," continued the report, "is that with regard to the Rocks road. As the council is aware, the portion of the Rocks road which lies wathin the Tahunanui Town District has been declared to be a main highway, and will remain so, so long as the Tahunanui Town District continues to be an independent district. Whilst the road le- . mains a main highway it ia under the jurisdiction and control of the_ District Highways Council, which contributes to its maintenance. The moment, however, that union takes place (if such should be the case) the road would pass from the control of the Highways Council into the, control and become a street of the united borough, and as for the maintenance of streets in boroughs of a greater population of 6000 no contribution is made by the Highways- Board, the whole cost of maintenance of the road would be cast upon the united borough. • "The questions for the council to consider are:—Whether it is willing that the Tahunanui Town District should be incorporated with the city; if not, what steps it should take to oppose any further action with that end in view which might be taken by tho Tahunanui Town Board. "With regard to the former question I do not think it is necessary to discuss terms, as it seems to me that these are clearly defined by the Municipal Corporations Act and are as previously stated herein. As to tho latter question, thero appears to be no machinery provided by that Act whereby action could be taken by the council in opposition to union other than a refusal to lodgo ;i petition in favour of union." •