NORTH SHORE AMALGAMATION

Auckland Star, Volume XLIX, Issue 74, 27 March 1918, Page 8

NORTH SHORE AMALGAMATION

DISCUSSED BY NOR.THCOTE COUNCIL, At the meeting of the Nortlicofce Council last night Cγ. H. Crowley stated that several tnonthe ago the question of the of the amalgamation of tlio borough with Birkenhead was brought forward by Cγ. Richard Webster. The matter ivae referred to the Council-in-committee for a report, ibiit so far had remained unconaidered, and he thought an opportunity should be afforded or' investigating the disadvantage or benefit that such a proposal presented.' . • Cr. A. E. Greeiislade agreed that the matter should be gone into without further delay. A year ago a petition from 150 electors was presented to the Coun- i cil requesting a poll be held on the iesue, "That the boroughs of Northcote and Birkenhead foe constituted one united borough." That request was Tefueed, on the ground that section 120 of the Municipal Corporations Act required the amalgamating boroughs to be one continuous area,- whereas it -was contended there was about luilf a chain separating the boroughs where it was generally supposed they joined each other. He moved that the Birkenhead Council be asked to co-operate in a joint request to the Government to remove the obstacle to a poll during the coming short session of Parliament, waiving the requirement of section 120 by declaring the boroughs contiguous for the purpoeee of amaiga niation. Cr* R. Webster seconded. During the ■last six months he had approached the subject of amalgamation with several members of the Birkenhead Council, and had found them very favourably disposed towa-rds the suggestion. The Mayor (Mr. J. B. Tonar) and Cr. 'Crowley considered it would be well to leave the boundaries ac at -present until it woe ascertained if amalgamation was j considered desirable, when the legal difficulty could easily be adjusted. It may be necessary to-drop a portion of the [■backblocks and form a new borough by means of an Act of Parliament, and the whole question could be put through in one operation: Cr. Greenslado replied that if the people wiehed an opportunity to vote upon the question the Council should facilitate this course by removing the legal barrier to a poll. The motion 'was lost, the division being: For, Crs. Greenelade nnd Webster; against, the Mayor (Mr. Tonar), Crs. Crowley, Broady, Heath, Barnes, Herrick, Lyon, and Flay. It wae unanimously resolved, on the inotidn of Cr. Hemck, seconded by Cr. Flay, that the Council-in-committee should consider the question of the amalgamation with Birkenkead at an early date.