Spectators at the western end of the showgrounds on
People's Day at the Otago A and P Society's 36th
metropolitan show. Otago Witness, 4.12.1912
It was indeed flattering to the advocates of the proposal
to amalgamate St Kilda with the city of Dunedin that they
should be greeted by such a large audience in the Coronation
Hall last night.
Almost every seat in the building was occupied, and in
addition there was a large number of the audience who stood
at the rear of the hall.
Mr J.J. Marlow occupied the chair, and in opening the meeting
he said he wanted it to be understood that the meeting was to
be conducted independent of personalities.
A certain amount of the personal element had been allowed to
creep into this question, but he trusted that for the
remainder of the campaign it would determine solely upon its
merits and on the arguments for and against the proposal.
(Applause).
What appealed to him as a public man on this question of
amalgamation was the huge advantages that would come to St
Kilda if it became amalgamated with the city.
As they were no doubt aware, the Drainage Board when
constituted embraced the City of Dunedin and seven separate
districts, each of which was represented on it.
Four of the seven had since joined the city, and if St Kilda
amalgamated, as he firmly believed it would, there would only
be two outside bodies.
As showing what could be done if they had a greater Dunedin,
he had only to remind them of the possibilities there were
for improving their own Ocean Beach.
He thought they would be standing in their own light if they
withheld from amalgamation.
He asked that each of the speakers be given a fair and
impartial hearing. (Applause).
A number of questions having been answered, Mr Fothergill
rose from the body of the hall, and said that he had been a
ratepayer in St Kilda for over 20 years.
He hoped it would be another 20 years before he would attend
another meeting such as this one.
He moved - ''That the principle of amalgamation with the city
be affirmed by the meeting, and that the electors take the
necessary steps to further the same.''
Mr Gabriel Hodges seconded the motion.
Mr Cohen moved an amendment as follows:- ''Being firmly
convinced that the rating on unimproved values will make for
the material prosperity of the borough, this meeting is
determined that it shall have a fair trial, and to that end
pledges itself to use every constitutional means to defeat
that present agitation for amalgamation with the city.''
Mr Newman seconded the amendment after Mr Cohen had spoken
for close on 20 minutes.
On being put to the vote the amendment was carried by a
fairly large majority by a show of hands.
A number in the body of the hall refrained from voting.
- ODT, 6.12.1912
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