TERRIBLE AUCKLAND.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 928, 22 September 1910, Page 4

TERRIBLE AUCKLAND.

"■ It is, probable that the country,, as well as'the House-'of Representatives, derives a good deal of amusement out of the'. desperate efforts of the Auckland members -, _of Parliament to '.maintain the.,rights' . and privileges of the northern city,'and, incidentally, to any,: fresh perquisites for that much-favoured portionookf k the ■■'Dominion. It ; is' really," very -diverting,, and possibly, from some points of view admirable, to witness the solid front of the northerners on all occasions where Auckland;,interests'\are ,! concerned, and their fussy resentment"of, every fancied flight or disparaging reference'; tp "the. Queen■', City of thc ; Nortfr," as":ME.. Glovee' would ;de-' light:.'to.' .describe. it,'' is'';' an , Old source ot',:entertainment.- But'there are" times when this f ussiness and'perBistence.b'ecome irritating: when'the "solid front"' of. the Auckland con- ' tingent.'-, to' quote. Mr. Laueenson, ' would be much; more appropriately described as effrontery. iTesterday's debate in the House of Representatives on the subject of Government House at Auckland was, so .far as the contributions of the Auckland members are concerned, more humorous than anything .else, but underlying the question is a quite serious issue. There: cannot'be any'doubt that'the Government acted with wisdom in deciding to close' Government House and utilise, the property for University 'purposes.' It was in the interests of Auckland that this should be done, and -also in' the interests of the whole Dominion. Auckland .really stood to profit very materially; by the change.; But Auckland has •, proved, on . previous occasions that-by making a very big outcry it can get its dwn way with •the-Waed Government, even though" the whole of the rest of the country may regard its claims as unjust and unwarranted. Therefore it set, itself out to retain Government House as Government .House, with a full confidence that it would in,the end: get its way. But more,than this ; .„ Auckland, intends to have the University scheme carried through as well.'-The southern members, |who so very properly: protested against the humiliating back-down of the Government, are in error in imagining that Auckland is sacrificing its ambitions regarding the University scheme,' for the sake of retaining the Governor's residence. They mean to have both, and the Government dare not thwart them. No one, we think, can legitimately argue that Auckland is.more entitled to a Governor's residence; with its consequent cost to the' State- , Christchurch or-Dunedin: But it .is not a question of logic or of justice; it is not a question i ofstudying the taxpayer's pocket or the public interest. The only circumstance that counts is.that Auckland, if Auckland does not get. what : ''it asks, for, makes- itself so amazingly unpleasant to the Government that Ministers, rush around trying.'.'.-,to pacify these desperate northerners. Me. Laueenson says the attitude' of the Government is humiliating. So. it is. We could find-a still stronger word for it. But what is the Hoiiso going to do? Does tho whole Parliament tremble, at the name of AucklandT-"-".' '■'" v ".'./'-' ':•'.; v