METROPOLITAN SCHEME

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 185, 8 August 1927, Page 5

METROPOLITAN SCHEME

AUCKLAND LOCAL BODIES. A CONFERENCE WANTED. CITY COUNCILS ATTITUDE. An appeal is to be made direct to the Local Bodies' Association for an opportunity of placing before a conference of representatives of local authorities proposals for the revi-ion of local government in the Auckland metropolitan area. The Mayor of Auckland (Mr. George Bailoon) was asked on July 15 by a deputation headed by Mr. L. A. Eady, a member of the City Council, to introduce the subject at a conference, M desired by the committee which recently put forth a scheme of co-ordinated organisation; but a reply received today etated that the City Council was opposed to such a step. At a meeting on July 28 the council, in committee, considered the deputation's request. The Major, in a. letter to the committee on the metropolitan scheme, stated that the council had decided that the subject should not be introduced at a conference as proposed. •'We are disappointed," said Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, on behalf of the committee, to-day. "We were not asking the council to give an opinion on the scheme, but eimpiy wanted an opportunity of placing the proposals before the various local bodies. 7, Mr. Holdsworth added that there wee only one alternative, and that was for the committee on the metropolitan scheme to approach the Local Bodies' Association. That course would be taken, and, as soon a s possible, the various proposals would be explained at : a conference, with a view to having them fully discussed on their merits. Reviewing the scheme briefly, Mr. Holdsworth said that it was intends! ;to simplify the administration of tho • existing 23 local authorities, ine eight ; local boards, independent oi each other. and the four controlling bodies, no; elected, but appointed and responsible to j the Government—not to the Iocs! electors. The aim was to remove th»» present perplexity 6ur round ing control and finance through the existence of such a large number of local bodies and 1 authorities administering the metroo l I tan area of Auckland.