CAVERSHAM AND THE GREATER DUNEDIN SCHEME.

Evening Star, Issue 11889, 18 May 1903, Page 2

CAVERSHAM AND THE GREATER DUNEDIN SCHEME.

TO TXUS EDITOR. Sir, —It is to be feared that the movement set on foot in Caversham for the purpose of amalgamation with the City will prove a serious set-back to the hopes of those looking; for an emly consummation of the Greater Dunedin scheme. There is i.o doubt that the action of the petitioners has been somewhat precipitate, and that it would have been wiser to have more fully discussed the pros and cons and the effects of amalgamation before taking the plunge of a plebiscite—more especially in Caversham, on which, according to high legal authority, the union of the Flat boroughs with the City depends. No one present at Friday night's meeting at Caversham could doubt the attitude of its and borough councillors towards the project. Plainly it was one of determined opposition to the scheme, and of absolute hostility to the City Council in thi« matter. Now, the petitioners, by their misguided precipitancy, have given the scheme's opponents the one argument of weight against a favorable vote at the present time—viz., that the electors of the borough are making a leap in the dark; that they " dunno where they are," or will be, in the event of amalgamation. But is there really anything in this? Mayor Wigram, of Christckurcfi (would we had such a "one strong mnn in a blatant land"), in his circular on Greater Christchureh, said; "On going into the question, I was surprised to find how many things there were which would not ho affected one wav or tin other by union." The fact is that the ratepayers of Caversham will be very much where they are now in the event of amalgamation.

You have already shown that tho bugbear of heavier rates is a sham. All this is settled by statute, and there is really little to be settled beforehand; and the Act does not segm to contemplate settlement of details before union. The boroughs would no doubt participate m the profits of the abattoirs, the trams, gas, and other municipal undertakings, and as far as Caversham is concerned would in a very short time have the advantage of a very much, cheaper gas supply. The attitude of the mayor and councillors of Caversham certainly does not commend itself in this question. They have overrun the constable; the scheme is to them like a red rag to a bull. hostility was evident in every councillor’s month last night. A meeting is called to discuss the question on a petition for a vote, and instead of putting the position and arguments fully and fairly before the meeting we find that all the councillors (headed by the mayor) hold a brief for separation. The speeches and the bearing of several of the councillors at last night’s meeting were in themselves, to any unbiased attendee, the beat of arguments for the abolition of the Caversham Council, or at least its amalgamation with a larger body. The mayor, in answer to a question, said that in the event of amalgamation being carried the Caversham Council would hare no power to make arrangements with the City. Was the mayor aware that on amalgamation both he and his councillors become councillors of the Council for the new area, and remain so till the first election of councillors thereafter? Surely this should be an ample protection against injustice wore any threatened or indeed possible. Cr Cole professes to favor union, but his professions and his arguments seem to be strangely at variance. Ho said that fs to being a councillor and remaining one, he admitted he had the “ disease," but as yon have hinted it is a disease which none of the councillors want cured by the application of amalgamation. “ These , little things art great to little men,” and there is no doubt that the fear of the loss of a little brief authority and probably of complete extinction in public life is at the bottom of the littleness exhibited by many towards this scheme. ' I exhort the inhabitants of tho boroughs to honorably put aside meaner considerations, and join hands with the City in the effort to evolve from the present conglomeration a better, a fairer, and a greater Dunedin. In the words of Mayor Wigram, ‘‘Will you not trust your public men,°your public Press, and your public opinion to see that a Greater Dunedin is run on equitable lines, and that in the main the rates are fairly spent proportionately in the districts in which they are raised?”—l am, et< ~. City Suburban. May 16.