HUTT AMALGAMATION

Evening Post, Issue 66, 15 September 1936, Page 17

HUTT AMALGAMATION

THE RIGHT TO VOTE

PETONE STATES ITS CLAIM

The question of amalgamation of the i Petone and Lower Hutt Boroughs was again raised at the fortnightly meeting of the Petone Borough Council last night, upon the following motion, moved by Councillor D. M. Dickson:— "That this council forward a letter to the member for the district, the Hon. Walter Nash, requesting him to make strong representations to the Government that provision be made in any proposed local body legislation to ensure to the people of Petone their inherent right to vote on the question of the amalgamation of Petone with other Hutt. Valley local bodies." Councillor Dickson said that it looked as though the Government had made up its mind upon the question of amalgamation, and had no intention of giving the- people an opportunity of exercising a vote on the .scheme. There was a population of 11,000 in the borough, he said, and there were 6000 electors. Every one of these- was entilled to a vote upon any question vitally affecting the borough. If Petone councillors were to ; accept the position without taking any action they were failing in their, duty. ' Councillor ■J, Cummings supported the motion, on the ground that the residents of tfie borough should be allowed to express their views before the plans were proceeded with. The Mayor (Mr. A. Scholefield) said that his views upon the question of amalgamation'were well known. Apart from these, however, the people of the borough had the right, essential in a democracy, to express their opinions upon important municipal questions. Mr. E. T. E. Hogg said that the relative advantages and disadvantages of amalgamation were far from clear. There were cases in which amalgamation might be justified, but he was by no means certain that in'the present ' case the optimum, as far as economic •administration was concerned, might not be passed by amalgamation. A very good case could be made for the cleaning up of a number of overlapping river, rabbit/and drainage boards. However the present case was one which concerned the people of Petone as a whole, and they should have the right to express their views. Mr J. R. Gaynor also spoke itrfavdur of the motion, which was carried unanimously.