BIRKENHEAD AND NORTHCOTE

Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 166, 12 July 1912, Page 6

BIRKENHEAD AND NORTHCOTE

—■■ ■ • AMALGAMATION SCHEME. The report of the joint committees set up by the Birkenhead and Northeote Borough Councils a few weeks back, to go into tho question or the advisability of the two districts amalgamating, was submitted at the meeting of the Birkenhead Council, held last evening. The report stated that considerable discussion took place at the conference as to whether an irrevocable agreement lie tween -the two boroughs could be legally entered into, whereby each borough, as at present constituted, could continue -for ever its a separate ward in the amalgamated boroughs. Opinion was expressed that, even if a ward system were inaugurated, it would be possible for a future amalgamated Council to abolish such a system. It was moved by Councillor F. M. King (Birkenhead), and seconded by Councillor W. 11. de f>uen (Northeote) : "That, in the opinion of this meeting, amalgamation of the Boroughs of Birkenhead and Northeote is advisable." This was carried Council! J. B. Tonar (Northeote) voting against it, and Messrs. F. M. King, de Duen, J. W- Court (Birkenhead), and J. Maginniss (Birkenhead) voting ir favour of the motion. The opinion was held by all the delegates that, though no present and immediate benehJ would result to either district as 2 slight problematical saving in the ad ministration cost*, yet there could b( no present loss to either borough, am the questions of the future, such as the tram service, municipalising of gas improvement of ferry service, public re serves, and ot'lier important questionwould be more efficiently dealt with by an amalgamated borough than by tw< separate authorities. In discus-sing the report. Councillor King said his ftrn belief was that there was a great future in store for each of the two districts •but a far greater one still if the boro-ughi amalgamated. Councillor Church expressed regre that the proposals had not reached '< practical state before the initiation o the borough water supply, as un doubtedly a big saving of expenditun would have beeu effected by utilising pumping site and plant. Councillor Campbell ventured tht , opinion that legal advice should h sought. The Mayor said that he was strongl; in favour of amalgamation. The twi boroughs were employing two tr/wi clerks, whereas under one large borougl the extra expenditure would be obviated the same thing would apply to th< borough engineers. It was resolved: "That the Coimei obtain legal advice from the Municrpa Association on the question"; and i was also decided to acquaint the North ' •cote Council of the course taken by th Birkenhead Borough.