A scene on the Wanganui River: The ferry steamer Waimarie
arriving at the Pipiriki landing stage from Wanganui. -
Otago Witness, 23.3.1910.
A question which may well engage the attention of
municipal politicians, now that provision has to be made in due
course for the amalgamation of the North-East Valley with the
city of Dunedin, is that of whether the existing ward system
should be continued.
In terms of the law the Governor may proclaim the united
borough to be an undivided borough and assign to it such
number of councillors as he thinks fit, or he may divide such
united borough into wards, assigning to each ward such number
of councillors as he thinks fit.
The simple expedient that may be adopted in such
circumstances as represented through the decision of the
electors of North-East Valley to seek admission to the city
is to constitute their borough a ward of the city and assign
to it three members.
Under such a plan the number of councillors of the city will
be increased to twenty-one, exclusive of the Mayor, this
being, it is to be noted, the maximum allowed under the
Municipal Corporations Act.
The simplest plan is, however, not necessarily the best and
is not always that which may be expected to yield the most
satisfactory results.
And in this case the position is complicated by the fact that
there is a distinct probability that another suburban borough
may shortly be knocking at the city gates for admission.
The present occasion, therefore, offers a favourable
opportunity for the consideration of the question whether the
highest interests of the community as a whole would not be
served by the abandonment of the ward system and by the
creation of the city into an undivided borough, which would
form one large and important constituency . . .
• Anniversary Day this year will be by no means a general
holiday, as only those shopkeepers who are compelled to close
under Arbitration Court awards are recognising the day, and
even some of these may keep open and pay their hands the
extra wages as stipulated.
Many of the larger shops, and one or two of the trades, are
observing the holiday on Saturday and closing down from
Thursday night until Tuesday morning; but the closing on
Saturday is anything but general, as a great many of the
shops will be open for trade on that day.
It is unfortunate that Anniversary Day should fall in Easter
week. - ODT, 22.3.1910.
Bookmark/Search this post with:
A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.