Greater Auckland

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 97, 15 July 1927, Page 1

Greater Auckland

REGIONAL CONTROL URGED Amalgamation Undesirable AMALGAMATION of the many local bodies in the Greater Auckland area provides neither a solution to the present administrative difficulties, nor any promise of the advancement of the city, according to the views of a deputation that waited on the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, this afternoon. The deputation suggested that the only feasible solution was the appointment of a Metropolitan Council, dealing with all regional matters, the present local bodies continuing to do the local administrative work.

deputation was introduced by Cr. L. A. Eady, and the leader of the deputation was the Hon. George Fowlds. Other speakers were Messrs. A. G. Lunn, chairman of the Auckland

Chamber of Commerce, A. J. Hutchinson, secretary of the Rotary Club, and Hugh Caughey. The Hon. George Fowlds stated that the representations were made as the result of a representative gathering of business men in the Chamber of Commerce recently. They requested that the proposals they had to make should be placed, by the Mayor, before thi coming conference of the chairmen of town boards, and mayors of suburban boroughs. NO RESULTS FOR £B,OOO

The deputation submitted that the local government in Auckland metropolitan area was not satisfactory. In proof of this was the setting up of supervising bodies by the Government, Including the Town Planning Board, the Local Government Loans Board, and the Transport Appeal Board. In addition to this there had been three commissions in one year, hospital, water and civic square, which had cost about £B,OOO, and the results of which had been nil. The tendencies were toward the loss of local control, through national non-elected boards, the amalgamation of local bodies, and the disintegration of control by the setting up of separate boards, such as those controlling power, fire, water and transport. Assuming that the 23 local bodies were merged into the city, it was reasonable to suppose that other boards would have to be set up, such as transport and water. RATING BURDEN The City Council would be left to provide all non-revenue producing services, entirely from rates. Huge sums would be required for development work, to provide playing areas and other facilities. Each amalgamation would bring added responsibility to he authority, and these responsibilities could only be met from rates, or ;rom loans raised on the security of the rates. The burden would be so bevvy that development work would be checked, because ratepayers would not agree to expenditure which would increase their burden of rates. Lack of co-ordination of public services would still exist under this scheme, control of metropolitan public utilities being divided among nine independent authorities, eigl«i with rating, levying or collecting powers, most of which had borrowing powers.

In suggesting the reform necessary to give the most satisfactory results, it was proposed that a Metropolitan Council be elected, with three repre sentatives from each of the ten par-

liamentary divisions, such body to control all regional utilities. This proposal aimed at the separation of regional services from district services and for co-ordina-tion of control without sacrifice of local interests. The Metropolitan Council would be the rating, loan-raising, and financial authority for the general area, would make by-laws, and allocate to the local bodies appropriations for the maintenance of their utilities. The local bodies would be administrative, and in many cases the alteration would only remove from their hands the levying of rates and the making of by-laws. They would estimate their expenditure for administrative purposes, and request provision of the required sum by the Metropolitan Council in much the same way as drainage and hospital boards make their demands on local bodies to-day. They would administer by-laws, and have control of local amenities. Local councils could amalgamate, but this was not an essential under the scheme. ADVANTAGES SUMMARISED The benefits and advantages summarised were: 1. Local government retained, instead of being lost to Governmental nominated boards and commissions. 2. Local district interests retained and stimulated by local councils being free from regional matters and able to devote more attention to local matters. 3. All regional matters co-related and co-ordinated, making for more even development, great savings in administrative costs, by eliminating overlapping and by all rating, loan, and finance matters being controlled by one body. 4. The advantages of a defined plan for development and administration, as against present methods of mere expedient action without due regard to results. 5. Stimulus to civic pride, more interest in local matters, more encouragement to citizens to devote time to local government. Mr. Baildon said he would be pleased to bring the matter before the meeting, as requested.