THE BIG MARINE SUBURB.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVI, Issue 69, 22 March 1915, Page 8

THE BIG MARINE SUBURB.

GREATER NORTH SHORE. . AN IDEAL TAKING SHAPE. A well known advocate of a Greater North Shore, discussing Mr. F. E. Powell's scheme outlined in the "iStax." claims that the weakness of the propceate was the crca-tion by Mr. Powell of an additional tadnHoishrative body, whereas the objective should be to lessen the governing bodies —hi fact, reduce them to one — in order to secure -the, «aximuni saving 2n the cost of administration, while at the same time reaching the maximum of -fficiency in administration. To create a siew county, lie said, and carry on local admimstTatron __ the varkruE exisrthig Council ofißoeß, wnand rob the scheme of jtny immediate financial economy. In any case, the existing boroughs, where clo_e eefcfclememt obtains, 'Would not exchange _be wide powers conferred under the KrurarapaJ low, by treverting to government ander-the Counties Act. The trend 2>f oH closely-populated residential localities whs bo break away from county rule ty the formsfekra of boroughs, road districts, or-town dßbrici6.

The, speaker fuiuiy held bo .the policy S>f amaigama'fcing the boroughs of Devonyort, Takapuna, Northcote, and Birkenfaaui. and poitions of the Takapuna and B__enb«d Tidmgs of _he Waitemata jßotntty into one jntnneipaiiir. The questions of finance and Tating presented no iEfficnlties, to h_» mind, and -were easily «apa.ble of adjustment. If nhe ward jsysfeem «were adopted, practically no adtjjKtmeirt would be required. There •would 3>e«t feast five wards, returning each, say, bhree inembere, while the Mayor would be etwsed irom th. whole of the ietectons oi the amalgamated airea. This -wonM give a Council of sixteen, whioh Ehonhi be strong enough to deal in a ■xxmi^n *4hy»/g_hj maimer niLh the devefcjp-____&-ol tbe-combmed .area-

The advantages to he derived from *ne6.-air amajgxmxtUm mould dnchxde (1) economy oyer -present multiplicity of ad-

(1) greater efficiency _y 3.pprrrmw7ept engineer to stipersrfenri worts; (3) facility of dealing in j ?_ comprobeiKve manner with tbe instal- ' Station of an electric tramway system •£s-U fugi impossible at present, where | ii-re separate nsfcerttfe have to be con- I suited); (4) control of water 6upply by iotas body, and more economical management thereof iby "working only such of I the four pumping plants _s are really srecosßary for supplying the needs of tie population; and also to secure a water «njjply adequate far _:_, requirements of de _Sca__. Shore; (5) town planning _Joud he more effectively caiii.d out; i(6) drainage would be facilitated; (7) •nbanced borrowing powers for larger undertakings, making for sapid development of the amalgamated districts, adding to "their capital value, and incidentally yielding a greater revenue income, allowing further improvements to he carried out, -with "ultimately a reduction in rates. It was pointed-jout that at the conference in June last d£- tfie .whole of the members of -the. bdiSJUghs __2Devbnpart, :*_fe-_-pn_a;~ Northcote; &&$* Birkenhead, -the question of amalgamation was brought -forward, and-the mayors and town clerks of the respective boroughs iwere appointed a committee to collect __tta for presentation to "a -further meeting 'Within a year. It was taot thought ihai ifthe present time was at all inopportune for the advancement of the projwsal, as a "taJhoa" policy in connection therewith might fend to increase aiffieTdties xattoer" than 'to facilitate unroa.