THE IDEAL SUBURB

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 66, 18 March 1915, Page 2

THE IDEAL SUBURB

OK GREATER NORTH SHORE. FIVE INGREDIENTS TO MIX. The comprehensive scheme that was set out in the "Star" last night by Mr. F. E. Powell, the well-known engineer, for the better administration and development of the boroughs on the northern side of the harbour, has created a great deal of interest. Mr. Powell's picture of the economy of united effort over a wisely-selected area of the North Shore district, and of the progress that would inevitably attend this singleness of purpose, boldly defines what public-minded citizens across the water have long cherished as a dream too good to be true. •'lt is very helpful," said Mr. G. Fraser, Mayor of Northcote, "to have a scheme like this presented to us to ponder over, and help us to realise what we have to work up to." He personally approved very cordially of the idea of united action among the North Shore suburbs. Possibly the scheme was not practicable at the present time; it might be just a little too soon to regard it as a working possibility; but it was the ideal that an endeavour should be made to reach. There was no doubt, Mr. Fraser thought, that if the four boroughs on the other side of the water wished to go in for big schemes for tha» common good, they would have to amalgamate to do so. The water question alone was one that required the united efforts of all the local authorities interested. While firmly maintaining that there was a sincere and general desire for complete unity, Mr. Fraser suggested that for some little time there would be difficulties—administrative and financial difficulties —in the way. When these were adjusted, and when all had been educated up to the ideal surinitted, the proposals would constitute an admirable and practicable scheme. Mr. W. Blomfleld, Mayor of Takapuna, favoured the idea that was at the back of Mr. Powell's proposals but was not confident of the practical outcome being quite as one might wish. He explained at the outset that the fundamental object of the North Auckland Municipal Association was not to bring about the amalgamation of the four boroughs. The Association was formed for the protection of mutual interests, to enable stronger action to be taken when any common cause wa* at stake. It was to do for the North Shore borouzhs what the Local Bodies' Association was doing' for the boroughs on the city side of the harbour. The idea of one amalgamated authority was, however, kept in view. ,It was, for instance, strongly urged by Devonport. but was not warmly regarded by Takapuna. Devonport had a big debt and its roads required immediate expenditure; Takapuna was a young borough with no debts, and a big revenue. Then, again, the evstem of rating was not uniform amonjr the four boroughs; The only basis of amalgamation appeared to be for each borough to be constituted as a ward, and to spend its own revenue, and thus the Association had devoted itself to matters in which common action could be taken. That was tvhy- they had come to diecusa the question '■■ty t'-terT?'. charges!.. Just .at present therir'wa&'Si'' activities—you needed a bone if you wanted the doga to come around. But the amalgamation question was still one of the planks of the Association's platform. Mr. Blomfleld commended the scheme submitted by Mr. Powell, while etill shaking hU head at the prospect of getting four borou<rhe and a County Council to amalgamate, without some manoeuvring first. The water-shed portion of the scheme, for example, would have to be taken up by the Government, which could assess the proportion to be paid by each local authority on a pomilation basis, and control the water. That was Mr. Blomfield'e main point of optimism, that the Government snonld take over the water supply and control of the North Shore, nhd leave the administration as at present.