THREE MORE COUNCILLORS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 57, 7 March 1913, Page 8

THREE MORE COUNCILLORS.

TO GOVERN GREATER AUCKLAND.

CITY COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP

INCREASED.

A proposal to increase the size of the City Council was brought forward at last night's meeting by Mr. P. J. Nerheny, who moved: "That the Auckland City Council doth hereby, by special resolution intended to operate as a special order, resolve that the total number of members of the Council shall be increased from fifteen to eighteen, exclusive of the Mayor." Mr. Nerheny, in moving his resolution, said that two years ago he had moved a similar motion. Sow they were in a different position, in that the Greater Auckland scheme seemed to be taking some definite shape. Parnell was already united to the city. The law permitted them to increase the size of the Council to 21 if they so desired. Some years ago, when the city consisted of six wards, they had 18 members. In view of the size of the city to-day he was convinced that the size of the Council should be increased from 15 to 18.

Mr. R. S. Briggs, in seconding the motion, said his brief experience on the City Council had already convinced him that the volume of committee work alone required a larger membership on the Council.

Mr. John Court said that the present Council of 15 members had no difficulty in doing ten times the work which the Council of IS did some years ago. Still he would offer no objection to the proposal. «

"Sir. 3f. Casey "asked Avhetlier the inclusion of the Remuera district in the city would mean the immedate transfer of all its members to the Council.

In the course of a review of the added responsibilities involved by the change of boundaries, the Mayor said that there was to be a great deal of added -and added responsibilities. A telegram had been ..received by him that-day, intimating that'no objection having been lodged, Arch Hill would-forth with be gazetted part of the city. (Applause.) The inclusion of Parnell, Arch Hill, and other districts likely to join the city right away would add a population of another 15,000 to the 40,000 already in the city area. A big body often meant more talk and less work, but in view of ■the existing conditions he thought the phange should be agreed upon.

motion, was carried unanimously.