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Evening Star, Issue 11890, 19 May 1903, Page 4

Titf. able and lucid exposition of the existing statute law relating to Words or the union of boroughs which (notion. Mr W. A. Sim gave to the

meeting at Kensington last niglit should be read and pondered by every citizen. It teaches two lessons—firstly, the careless way in which the law of the land is compiled ; secondly, it emphasises the need for treading warily a path that is beset with much danger. With Mr Sim, we marvel how siich a measure as the Municipal Corporations Amendment Act, 1902, ever came to be passed. Next, we would point out to the party of reform the extreme danger of taking irrevocable steps under such a statute without competent advice. As we have stated before, it would be idle to suggest that adequate statutory provision has been made for the circumstances now existing. Our readers are well aware that we have consistently advocated a Greater Dunedin; but We have also insisted that union, in order to be successful and permanent, must be founded on an equitable and fair basis. We are further in agreement with Mr Sim that amalgamation “ should not be hurried “through in the indecent, way in which it “is now sought to be done.” We take leave to think, moreover, that the City Fathers should interest themselves actively in the promotion of simultaneous union between the City and all the boroughs. Greater Dunedin sounds well, and will be a good thing ; but “ piecemeal Dunedin” is a phrase that does not commend itself to us. Rather than see amalgamation brought about on hastilyconceived linos, we would go the length of advising the “ electors ” of Caversham to vote against the present movement; but feeling confident that their good sense will enable them to choose the right course, we view the result of next week’s poll without the slightest apprehension At the same time, those who promoted and those who signed the petition for amalgamation may lay the flattering unction to their souls that they have done good work in awakening' public interest in a question that appeals to all of us, and they may roly on it that if they will throw as much enthusiasm into a demand for an equitable and workable scheme of union, as they have done iido the present agitation it will not bn long before their aspirations are realised. A . temporary check only servos to whet the ardor of earnest men. and we feel assured that many of those who have oppose.! the present movement will then be founl working loyally to bring about union on a sure and lasting Inundation. We should fail in our duty did we not direct the especial attention of the mayor and councillors of the City to an expression of opinion by Mr Sim that we know to be shared by a not inconsiderable section of the citizens. That gentleman, referring to tramway matters, remarked; “Goodness knows where the engagements “of the City in regard to the tramways “were going to land the City,” ft would be folly to assert that Mr Sim is the onlv representative man in Dunedin who views with misgiving, if not absolute concern, the possibilities of the municipal management of the tramway business, and a word of warning from such a quarter to the City Fathers to move warily in this connection will not, we are sure, be taken amiss nor in an improper spirit.