SCATTERED FAMILY.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 228, 26 September 1929, Page 9

SCATTERED FAMILY.

NORTH SHORE BOROUGHS. SUGGESTED amalgamation. MAYORS' CONFLICTING VIEWS. HARBOUR BRIDGE THE CRUX. A suggestion made at a meeting of the Takapuna Borough Council last evening that the time was ripe for amalgamation of the four North Shore boroughs has led to diverse views being expressed by the mayors of the othei members of the widely-scattered North Shore municipal family. The crux of the matter before a new city can come into being, tliey contend, is the fixing of the northern bridge head of the proposed and strongly urged trans-Waite-mata Harbour Bridge. A Devonport Viewpoint.

'•'The amalgamation of the four North Shore boroughs is one of those current propositions far more attractive theoretically than practically," said Mr. E. Aldridge, Mayor of .Devonport;. s Tlie conditions which have furthered amalgamation 011 the Auckland side of the harbour —radiation from a common hub centre and population contiguity—do not yet function on

the ' North Shore. These necessary features of amalgamation might conceivably exist at the northern bridgehead when the Waiteliiata is spanned by such a structure. It is possible that the fusion of Devonport with Takapuna and of Northcote with Birkenhead are not such distant events,

but the whole matter needs very careful examination. There are such wide and undeveloped spaces between the centres of population 011 the North Shore that from Devonport's point of view, as a small and compact borough, any advantage to us would be very dubious. I agree that there are major problems of water supply, drainage, transport and refuse collection, which affect us all, but the combination of the four separate schemes now existing on water supply and drainage. for example, involves an expense altogether out of proportion to any minor administrative benefit likely to accrue from amalgamation. Further, Devonport lias its concrete road system fully complete, its sewerage is finished, and its municipal staff is adjusted to its requirements. As the senior borough on the North Shore, it naturally looks askance at. any propositoin that would take from it the position of an administrative centre. But at the same tune, due to the topographical contour of the North Shore, this is a very real.factor in the propositon. The pooling of present loan commitments and future financial obligations is unthinkable, and municipal management on the ward basis is very doubtful economy. Nevertheless, if' any conference is called Devonport'will assuredly be represented, for . anything which may make for the betterment the North Shore is of vital interest to us all." Birkenhead's Attitude. Birkenhead's -attitude was unfavourable. ilr. J. P. McPhail, Mayor of that borough, said Birkenhead had no corn-

munity of interest with Devonport, but it was favourably disposed towards amalgamation with Northcote. Between Devonport and Birkenhead there was a distance of nine miles, and the big bite of Shoal Bay would be an obstacle in the

way of an economical works policy

for the united districts. Beyond question the crux of the problem was the lack of a common centre. The unity of interest might become a reality when a harbour ■bridge was built, but it was possible the bridge would prove a permanent stumbling block to the advocates of amalgamation. Birkenhead and Northcote had a stronger link with the city, even now, than they had with Devonport, and the people of Devonport were in the same position. To take any important step at the moment would, Mr. McPhail concluded, be highly imprudent. Northcote's Majority.

"This is a revival of a proposal which I have always favoured," said Mr. A. E. Greenslade, Mayor of Nortlieote. Continuing, Mr. Greenslade said a conference w a s held two years ago representing th e four boroughs, presided over by Mr. J. W. Williamson, Mayor of Takapuna. It was decided to obtain details relating to all the districts, to be presented to a later conference, but nothing further was done. More efficient administration of public utilities and of the municipal services would result from amalgamation, Mr. Greenslade considered. Northcote's enthusiasm had, however, waned somewhat since the position in regard to highway subsidies had favoured local bodies with a email population. The main thoroughfare from the wharf was now a main highway, and had been paved with concrete for the first mile from the waterfront. The borough was formed in 1908, and had attained its majority this year.