AMALGAMATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 262, 5 November 1931, Page 10

AMALGAMATIONS.

CONDEMNED BY EXPERT.

BOROUGH SYSTEM ADVOCATED

EXPERIENCES OF CANADA

That tho system of annexations, or amalgamations as they are called in New Zealend, hae been a failure, is the considered opinion of Mr. Joseph Beaubien, president of the Union of Municipalities of the province of Quebec, Canada. In a paper delivered before the Montreal Junior Board of Trade, Mr. Beaubi/sn said the system of absorbing adjacent Jioroughs had failed to justify itself and he suggested that in its place the principles of the borough system in force in London could be applied, with better effect.

"The system of annexations has killed public interest in municipal affairs," said Mr. Beaubien, as reported in "The Municipal Review of Canada." "People will hardly go out to vote and business men can rarely be induced to run for civic office as they consider it hopeless to move guch a large mass as the electorate of Montreal. Tho City Council itself is nnwieldly and drowned in routine detail, which is really the lower form of civic administration.

"Montreal has grown in all directions without a carefully thought-out scheme of development. Year after year expensive buildings have been permitted to bo erected where main thoroughfares will have to be, and this means costly expropriations. While lax administration always results in considerable waste, it is nothing to tho waste caused by the look of foresight and action. The trouble is that the city administrators, engrossed in a mass of routine detail, have no time to intelligently tackle problems of "vital importance. Lack of Foresight.

"The lack of foresight and action on these grave questions should not be blamed on our administrators, but is due to the system which exists at the City Hall, and which would be rendered immeasurably \torse should the city be further enlarged by the absorption of the surrounding municipalities. A number of pities in the United States have sufferred as has Montreal, from the same cause—annexations. And those who have attended municipal conventions during the past few years, have noticed tho movement towards the federal or borough form of government, as against central administration."

Summarising tho advantages of tho borough system, applied to Greater Montreal, Mr. Beaubien said the borough form of government would v create a lively public interest in the city's welfare. It would separate the routine of local i administration from the greater problems of inter-urban interests and ensure efficient control; and would secure a large proportion of able men for tho administration. The borough system, or federations of municipalities, would bo composed of borough councils and a metropolitan council. Each borough would havo its own mayor and borough council, vested with the usual powers, except those to be delegated to the j metropolitan council.

Local Administration, The duties of these borough councils would be the local administration, namely, the construction and maintenance of streets and sewers, footpaths, parks and the like, and in general everything pertaining to local development, and administration. The borough councils would have tho levying of all taxes, including tho contribution inn posed by tho. metropolitan council, to which body the local council would appoint delegates. The powers of the metropolitan council would include control over the finances of the boroughs, the establishment and maintenance of all services, especially water supply, fire protection, seWers, hygiene, incinerators, metropolitan parks, etc. Tho expenses necessary to carry on the duties of the metropolitan council would bo levied on the boroughs in proportion to their valuation and in certain cases in proportion to their interest in the. public works or services carried out. The borough system had mahy advantages to commend it, said Mr, Beaubien. Tho 'innumerable details of local administration Would *be divided amongst the borough councils and be administered by representatives closer to tho taxpayers.. The borough administrators having to impose all taxes, including the levies made by the metropolitan council, would feel closely accountable to the ratepayers and thus accentuate the desire for economical, efficient and progressive administration.

Comparisons Shown. Tho effect of tho metropolitan, council's Oversight of the borough councils Would be to ensure sound finance. The effect of the borough councils on the metropolitan council would act as a spur and a check. Tho system Would /provide the means tef bringing the wishes and desires of every part of the metropolitan area to the direct attention of the central administration. The effect of the boroughs one on the other wOuld be a strong stimulant for an economical, effective administration through comparison. The best borough would stand out as an example to the others. j

"Last but not least," concluded Mr. Beaubien, "the citizens, realising that it Would bo worth their while to take an interest in municipal affairs, would revive a public spirit, without which no really good administration can long exist. Tho public spirit' so conspicuously lacking in nearly all big cities is usually very strong in small municipalities."