PROPOSAL HELD UP

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 59, 7 September 1937, Page 17

PROPOSAL HELD UP

UPPER HUTT FIRE BOARD

Recently a poll was held at Upper Hutt on the subject of forming a ilre board In the district, and the proposal was carried by a large majority. At the meeting of the Upper Hutt Borough Council last evening a letter was roceived from the Minister of Internal Affairs (tho Hon. W. E. Parry) stating that the application' to have the area declared a fire district had been referred to him. Mr. Parry said that it was tho present policy of the Government to reduce Ihe number of local authorities ,in New Zealand. Proposals had been drafted and submitted to local authorities by the Government with this end in view. The council would therefore readily realise ■ that ■it would be a source of embarrassment for the Government to be instrumental in creating further local authorities at present. Mr. Parry said he would be obliged if the council would arrange for the application to be revived when the various proposals now under consideration for the amalgamation of local authorities had been decided. ; Councillor G. H, Guthrie, chairman of tho fire prevention committee, said he understood, there was a move to amalgamate all local in the Hutt Valley. The Minister had been trying to amalgamate local bodies, ana was meeting with considerable opposition. He agreed that there were too many .fire boards. He understood that there was also a move to bring some fire boards back into the control of local bodies.,

Councillor J. S. Baskctt said that Upper Hutt'was separated geographicnllv from the lower part-of the Hutt Valley.- It. was • wrong to • think of Amalgamating with Petone or Lower HutU

It was decided to interview the Hon Mr. Parry on the matter.