NORTHCOTE AND BIRKENHEAD.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 140, 14 June 1911, Page 4

NORTHCOTE AND BIRKENHEAD.

SUGGESTED AMALGAMATIOX. At last night's meeting of the Northcote Borough Council a letter was received from Mr. A. L. White (Town Clerk, Birkenhead), conveying the resolution passed at last meeting of the Birkenhead Borough Council, viz.:— That the Birkenhead Borough Council were prepared to meet the Northcote Council to discuss questions of mutual advantage with a view to amalgamation.

Mr. Van Veen, in speaking in 6npport of opening negotiations wtfth the Birkenhead Borough Council, stated that be had a perfectly open mind in the matter, but he was convinced that the amalgamation of the boroughs 'would Tesult in greater efficiency, and that a considerable saving would be effected in the cost of administration, which, he considered altogether too high, considering the amount of revenue received. He suggested a conference of both bodies, each councillor to invite one gentleman (a resident or ratepayer), so that the whole matter might .be thoroughly thrashed out, and the pros and cons gone into. He also -suggested an independent chairman, such as Mr. A. M. Myers, M.P., who, he saud, was very much interested in a Greater Auckland scheme. Mt. Dc Duen supported the idea. Cts. Mowlem, Fraser, Daniel and Tonar spoke in support of a conference, but thought it premature to invite other than members of the Councils interested. It was eventually decided, "That the Nortlrcote Borough Council is prepared to meet, the Birkenhead Council in committee for the purpose of discussing the question of amalgamation of the two Boroughs."