Strong Opposition to Amalgamation

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 178, 18 October 1927, Page 13

Strong Opposition to Amalgamation

SOME CANDID CRITICISM | MEETING AT MOUNT ROSKILL The strongest possible opposition t°. the amalgamation of Mount Rosk* 11 with the city was offered at a meeting held in the Methodist schoolroom at Epsom last evening, when about 100 people gave full support to the four speakers. The chair was occupied by Mr. E. F. Jones, chairman of the Mount Roskill Hoad Board. It came as a shock to Mr. P. J. befton to find that after all the work accomplished by the Unimproved Values Committee, the loan would be thrown overboard by the proposed amalgamation with the city. It had been said that the question of unimproved values was being used to cloud the amalgamation question, but that was not so, he averred. The real bait in this question was that they would get improved transport (ironical cheers). Another bait,” said Mr. Sefton, “is that we will get trams to Mount Albert Road, but that very question was turned down some time ago. I see that Mr. Allum is speaking on behalf of amalgamation to-morrow, and I hope he will tell us why workers’ tram tickets can’t be used after 8 a.m. (Hear, hear.) “He may also tell us why the smallest buses are put on the Bucklands Hoad run during rush hours. The Mayor tells us to join up and be welcome, but if we do we will never get out again.” The speaker referred to a meeting of business men in the city who had advised against the amalgamation, and expressed the hope that the ratepayers would fight hard against it. LOSS OF LOCAL INTEREST “I can only' commend Roskill for refusing to be drawn in by the City Council unconditionally,” said Mr. S. Donaldson, Mayor of Newmarket. “During the time Sir James Parr was Mayor he made all sorts of promises to the residents of Parnell and Remuera but, needless to say, none ever materialised once they had amalgamated. Had those districts retained their own government they would have developed speedily and cheaply, and if they could they would all vote themselves back.” His greatest objection to amalgamation was the loss of local interest. “The most iniquitous thing ever done by the City Council was the framing of those bus regulations,” he said, “and now, even if you join there is no guarantee that you will get the trams,” and lie quoted the case of Point Chevalier. •This question of amalgamation is not a British system of local government: it is American, and you would be most unwise to consider it.” In Sydney there are 55 local bodies and in Melbourne 28, while the Auckland City Council controls over half the population and more than Sydney or Melbourne. The speaker referred to a scheme now afoot to introduce a metropolitan council for the control of the essential services, while local bodies looked after their own local interests. PUT OFF OWN ROADS “If you join the city I won’t come and live here, as I intend,” averred Mr. E. Stevenson. “You are told you will get better transit by the council, which got the Government by the nose and made it introduce Bolshevik bus regulations. “Would you join the city that puts you off your own roads? The council can run its heavy buses on your roads but you can’t run your own buses because it is illegal.” The speaker criticised the action of the council in sending the manager of the trams to England. He pointed out that a loan for the extension of trams to Point Chevalier had been carried, but the council used this money to buy buses, and lost £9OO a bus on # the deal. “The council's pledges are not worth tuppence. Keep and don’t be silly. The council is a ghastly failure and devoid of any business ability.” In the opinion of Mr. Hall Skelton, the people should not be led “like lambs to the slaughter.” Mr. Skelton attacked the policy of certain residents of Mount Roskill: the City Council and its methods of administration, and the Press. A number of questions were asked and. answered, after which the meeting passed a resolution expressing disapproval of the amalgamation committee’s action in seeking to link Mount Roskill with the city.