COUNTY AMALGAMATION

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 135, 9 June 1928, Page 17

COUNTY AMALGAMATION

. SUGGESTIONS DISCUSSED A "round the table" discussion mi the suggested amalgamation of the Makiira County Council and the Hutt County Council took place at the monthly meeting i the former body yesterday. Councillor 11. Mexted brought tho matter up, saying that he thought an amalgamation would make a reduction in overhead expenses possibly of £1000 a year to the Makara County, and the actual overhead would bo spread over a large county, which would make it lighter in every respect. They would also have more efficient supervision generally. In reply to a question from the chairman (Mr. E. Windley), 3vlr. Mcxted said that they had left the county because tliey did not think they were fairly treated, but under the management now there was no reason why they should not get a fair deal. Councillor Bothamloy said it was waste of time to discuss the matter then. A committee should be appointed to get some data to work on. Mr. Windley said that»he thought at the present time amalgamation was quite out of the question. Possibly there might have been something in it some years ago, but there was less reason now than ever, because, beyond .Tohnsonvillo —tho greater part of. the .Poriruci riding —would possibly be a borough. They had to look to tho future. There was no good reason for joining up now. Ho thought the general management of tho Makara Co;.mty was as good as that of the Hutt County. Councillor Mexted said he was just taking a general view of the thing. A big county should be easier to run than a small one. Councillor Prosser: "There is such a thing as having too large a county." Councillor Mexted then moved, and Councillor Sloane seconded, a motion that tho matter be considered at the next-meeting of the council, and that the policy and finance committees collect data on the question. The motion was carried;