H—3

(2) As has been explained, the four North Shore boroughs and the Waitemata County Council are all opposed to being brought under the Metropolitan Board, and ask that a separate Board should be constituted. We have stated the reasons put forward in support of their contention. We are not overlooking the proposal made by the County Council that if the sewage from the area is to be treated and disposed of at Brown's Island the Board should be the controlling'authority. It has never been suggested, however, that this course should be adopted, and it would appear to be quite impracticable. (3) We have given full consideration to these reasons, but we have come to the conclusion that they should not be allowed to prevail and that the area should be brought within the Metropolitan District and under the control of the Metropolitan Board, with adequate representation on that Board of the local authorities affected. We have also come to the conclusion that the area should not form part of either the Inner Area or the Outer Area of the Metropolitan District, but should be constituted a separate sewerage district. (4) We consider that it is important in the interests of the North Shore area, as well as in those of the Metropolitan District as a whole, that there should be no division of control in drainage matters. Further, we consider material economies in administration expenses can be effected by avoiding the setting-up of a separate Board. The most important factor, however, in favour of the incorporation of the North Shore area in the Metropolitan District is the great advantage that will follow from that area having the benefit of the experience and skill of the Metropolitan Board and its technical staff. Modern methods of sewage treatment and disposal require the services of highly skilled and experienced engineers, chemists, and other technical staff. These are required for designing and constructing the necessary works, but, in addition, it is necessary to maintain a skilled and experienced staff to operate the works efficiently. Even if the comparatively small area and population comprising the North Shore area were able to bear the financial burden of employing the competent staff required, there would be no justification for the duplication of expense that must necessarily result. The North Shore area should not be deprived of the advantages that must follow from being able to make use of the experience and knowledge that will be possessed by the Metropolitan Board and its staff. (5) We recognize that the local authorities in the North Shore area genuinely feel that their interest will be subordinated to those of the rest of the district, but we consider that their fears are groundless. It has not been suggested by any local authority which in 1944 was brought. within the extended Metropolitan District that its inclusion has resulted or is likely to result in any prejudice to the ratepayers or residents of the district of the local authority. If the views of the North Shore local authorities are sound, it might have been expected that they could be supported by referring to the situation ©f other parts of the Metropolitan District. (6) It follows, of course, that if the North Shore area is to be included in the Metropolitan District the local authorities in the area must have adequate representation on the Metropolitan Board. None of the North Shore local authorities made any representations on this question, and the information available to us is, we consider, insufficient for the proper determination of what is clearly a very important matter. The only satisfactory course is, we think, that there should be a special inquiry by a competent authority which should hear evidence and representations not only from local authorities in the North Shore area, but also from those included in the existing Metropolitan District. In the circumstances we have decided that we should not make a positive recommendation with respect to the representation which the local authorities in the North Shore area should have on the Metropolitan Board, but that we should recommend that for the purpose of determining this question there should be a special inquiry by the ■ Local Government Commission.

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