Kamo Poll Tomorrow On Merger Proposal

Northern Advocate, 17 May 1949, Page 6

Kamo Poll Tomorrow On Merger Proposal

TOMORROW Kamo citizens will express their opinions on whether or not they consider the Kamo Town District should be merged with the Whangarei Borough. The poll follows the Local Government Commission’s scheme for amalgamation after it had heard lengthy evidence and considered objections.

In promulgating its scheme the commission pointed put that the Whangarei Borough Council had lived on harmonious terms with Kamo for many years and did not desire to be responsible for any move that might jeopardise that harmony. TIME FOR AMALGAMATION. Consequently it was not prepared to take any active part in seeking the transfer of the Kamo Town District to the jurisdiction of the Whangarei Borough Council, but it had provided considerable information to enable the commission to arrive at a just and equitable decision. There had been some evidence that residents of Kamo realised the future of Kamo was bound up with that of Whangarei- and that, in time, it would be incorporated in the borough. One question at issue was whether that time had arrived. By its decision that the town district should be amalgamated with the borough the commission showed that it considered the time had arrived. NOT PREJUDICED. Dealing with aspects of the amalgamation plan, the commission stated that, as far as the Housing Department was concerned, evidence had been given to show that it was working on the northern boundary of the borough and that future activity would spill over into the town district. The council's town planning adviser had given evidence to show that, for planning purposes, Kamo would be looked on as part of Whangarei and that it was desirable so to plan it. RATES, DRAINAGE. The evidence on behalf of the town board had been that there was a community of interest in Kamo which was independent of Whangarei, although it had been admitted that none of these activities would be prejudiced by amalgamation. It appeared to the commission that there was little difference between the Richard Stanley Wratten, who escaped from Mt Crawford Prison on Friday afternoon, was recaptured by the police this afternoon on Mt Victoria. Wellington.

rates levied in the town district and in the borough, although the question had not been debated at any length at the inquiry, and from that point of view Kamo residents would not be prejudiced. The question of Kamo drainage had also been discussed, and it had been agreed that, in all probability, the town district, which was not reticulated for sewer drainage, would use the new borough main sewer to be constructed towards the western side of the town. This sewer could be made large enough to absorb any sewerage from the town district. To the commission it appeared there was no doubt that the town district was economically and socially part of the Whangarei area. ADVANTAGES SEEN. It was also apparent that Kamo would receive considerable advantages if it were planned and developed in accordance with an overall plan covering both Kamo and Whangarei. None of the services available to Kamo would be lost, while there was evidence that the town district would gain by the availability of expert technical services provided by Whangarei. For these reasons the commission concluded that the town district should be absorbed in the borough. It is now for Kamo residents to decide whether the commission’s view coincides with their own. The poll will start at 9 a.m. and the booth at the town board’s office will remain open until 7 p.m.