The Hutt News WEDNESDAY, January 9, 1935. AMALGAMATION.

Hutt News, Volume 7, Issue 29, 9 January 1935, Page 4

The Hutt News WEDNESDAY, January 9, 1935. AMALGAMATION.

A useful thought for the new year is contained, in the decision made at last Borough Council meeting to bring forward again the question of amalgamation of Hutt Valley local bodies.; With this object the mayor was empowered to open negotiations with Petone and other authorsi ;s in the district. . , - That there will be initial opposition in some quarters irrespective of the merit of the proposal, almost goes without saying—some by vested interests, some due to narrow parochialism, and some genuinely inspired. Of these, the last-mentioned at least should be amenable to argument if it can be shown that the scheme is a potentially sound one. No argument on the other hand, is likely to prevail against self-interest or bigo* ed parochialism, which invariably seems to militate against reasoned consideration of questions of this nature. Viewed broadly, the prospects of amalgamation of Lower Hutt and Petone fully merit the unanimous support given by the Boi-jugn Council to the mayor's suggestion. The combined population ot the two boroughs already exceeds by a considerable margin the minimum of 20,000 required for ciH status. Topographically there * no hindrance to amalgamation, and no part of the amalgams* <d district would be unduly far removed from the centre of administration. In point of community of interest there are no discernible differences. In these latter two factors exist the principal avenues of approtch to open-minded stud) of the question. Other issues are sure to intrude, but if the mam principles involved are sound no difficulties are likely to arise that cannot be surmounted given the will to do so. It should not be too much to hope, therefore, that the matter may be approached by all parties in an open-minded manner actuated solely by the common object of the ultimate good of the Hutt Valley as a