RATEPAYERS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 169, 7 October 1927, Page 16

RATEPAYERS AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

SCHEME TO BE EXPLAINED “It is desirable that no further amalgamations with the city should take place until the ratepayers have had an opportunity of considering the metropolitan government scheme.” This opinion was expressed last evening by the committee set up to advance the metropolitan government scheme. By this it is suggested that essential services in the Whole of the city area, including transport, water and lighting, should be controlled by a metropolitan council, purely local works being controlled by small local bodies. Mr. E. H. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden, presided, and representatives of Mount Albert, One Tree Hill, Newmarket, Onehunga, Ellerslie, Glen Eden, New Lynn and North Shore areas were present. Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, chairman of the Auckland Elec-tric-Power Board, Mr. A. G. Lunn, president of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. T. Bloodworth and Mr. L. A. Eady also attended the meeting. Mr. Potter said that the committee putting forward the proposals was doing so with a genuine desire to advance the essential services. The scheme, with such modifications as might seem desirable, would result in securing greater efficiency and economy in the administration of the main services. Various committees were appointed to consider the activities that it is proposed to undertake. It was agreed that the metropolitan proposal offered the best solution of the difficulties facing local government.