AMALGAMATION OF BOROUGHS.

Evening Star, Issue 7628, 2 June 1888, Page 3

AMALGAMATION OF BOROUGHS.

At last night's meeting of the Caversham Council the Mayor (Mr W. Bragg) moved: "That it is expedient that the Doroughs of Caversham, South Dunedin, and St. Kilda should be amalgamated, and that a conference bo held of the Councils interested to consider the advisability of tho above, and the best means of giving effect to the same." In the course of his remarks tho Mayor stated that it must be apparent to anyone who took au intelligent interest In the welfare of the boroughs that this would be a step in the right direction. Some years ago a similar movement was initiated, and in consequence a Bill was passed through i the House empowering the boroughs to amalgamate under certain conditions, which many of the ratepayers in South Dunedin and : St. Kilda thought gave to Caversham too much preponderance in the united borough. The Bill provided that the united borough should consist of six wards, of which < Caversham formed three, South Dunedin two, and St. Kilda one. To get over any local jealousies in this respect, it would be ; well to abolish the whole of the wards, and redivide, so as to make, say, four wards, to i suit the altered circumstances, without keeping to the boundaries of the present ' boroughs at all. This could be easily managed Dy a Commission appointed for this purpose. The necessity for the movement became more apparent every year. The three , boroughß form one drainage area, and the ; difficulties surrounding this quostion were getting more serious. The Mayor concluded thus : " I need not remind the Council of the expense we have had to incur through j lawsuits lately, and it seems to me humiliating that bodies of men elected to do what 1 they can in the interests of the ratepayers should be forced to deal with each other at , the bayonet's point, as it were, when really (if this question is gone about in a reasonable ' way) no ground for dispute exists. The ' petty jealousies of the past would cease; ] the continued troubles incidental to boundary roads and drainage would cease also ; and from the united borough it is reasonable to suppose that we would have a greater political power, would have a better choice of representatives, ( more economy in administration, and united councils, instead of being, as we frequently are now, a, house divided against itself. I have tt\ucW pleasure in moving the resolution, feeling convinced that if this movement is gono about on a satisfactory basis that it can become an accomplished fact." Or CovKßi.ii) seconded the motion, which was supported by Cr Rutherford, and carried unanimously. It was further remitted to tho Mayor to arrange tho time of the Conference, Bhould the other Councils be favorably impressed with the proposal.