TWO BOROUGHS

Evening Post, Issue 25, 30 January 1935, Page 12

TWO BOROUGHS

PETONE AND LOWER HUTT

AMALGAMATION ISSUE

HUTT MAYOK'S COMMENT

■; The discussion at Monday's meeting of the Petone Borough Council on the question of amalgamation of the boroughs of Lower Hutt and Potone was referred to today by Mr. J. W. Andrews, Mayor of Lower Hutt. , .

" Naturally, "said Mr. Andrews, "I am disappointed that the Potone Borough Council has decided against a xound-tablo discussion on the question of amalgamation." Mr. Andrews stated that he had put forward his suggestion for a conference with no ideas,of special benefits for any one part of the Valley at the expense of any other part, /but with an "honest-to-goqdness" belief that all parts would benefit very imaterially, and that none would suffer any hardships as a result of amalgamation. If it could not bo shown that thero were innumerable advantages in the proposal, he, for one, would not proceed any further with it. There had 'been * numerous instances of similar amalgamations in New Zealand, and he ■had yet to hear of one of the places where the citizens were- subsequently sorry. There was an amount of misunderstanding which probably had not helped to simplify the position, and ■the introduction ■of certain extraneous matter was apt to create an atmosphere and perpetuate a condition which was tending to endanger the cause of unity in the Valley.

i "ONE PEOPLE." ; "In spite of artificial barriers, we are one people," continued Mr. 'Andrews, "and the greatness of.our heritage should givo us that breadth of vision which would permit the representatives of the people s6 to mould public opinion that the Hutt Valley would become a model of contented and rational self-government."

Mr. Andrews said that he could assure his neighbours that the Lower Hutt Borough Council would explore every possible avenue to meet the wishes and needs of their sisterborough, and that he and his council had perfectly open minds on the whole question. It was unfortunate that a suggestion had been made at the Petorie Council meeting that Lower Hutt would never agree to the ward system. As a mattor of fact Mr. Andrews thought that the ward system would be most desirable and probably essential for a considerable period. y : . . The. question of amalgamation had been discussed 25 years ago, when there were almost miles of paddocks separating the two boroughs, and no Hutt Park rating problem, no artesian water control problems, and no visualised needs for town-planning, to say nothing ipf beach improvements, street widening, sealing, stormwater drainage, and other matters that had since become of paramount importance, continued Mr. 'Andrews. Today it was impossible for the uninitiated to know when he left one borough to enter the other, and 'the other problems were such that the combined efforts of the representatives of the whole of the people of the 'Valley would help to a much more rapid solution. '.;'...'.

I GOVERNMENT INTERESTED. ' Mr.-Andrews said that he knew that the Government was very interested, and hoped that a happy merger could b> arranged for the benefit of the district generally. He'had frequently disi cussed the matter with the Prime Minister. Personally, he would much .rather that the Valley should*work out' its own salvation in mutual trust than , that it should: await compelling legis- : lation. . . ■ ■ ■ ;

The whole question was worthy of careful investigation in the light of present-day needs, and it should be possible to considerably simplify the system of local government and reduce the number of.bodies, and the cost. One of the curses of local government in'New Zealand was the large number of "ad hoc" bodies in each little community, numbers of which • had rating powers, and frequently overlapped into several other major bodies' areas. The Hutt Valley was a fairly glaring example of this, and, believing that it would'be: in the best interests of all of the people of the Valley, that a merger should be effected, he had endeavoured to interest the various bodies in the question of a conference.!

Mr. Andrews said he felt sure that the inhabitants generally would support any just proposal that would assist todo away with over-government, and he welcomed, the decision of Eastbourne, and,trusted that Petone would review the matter and at least a,gree to discuss the possibilities. ;