MUNICIPAL BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 290, 8 December 1932, Page 11

MUNICIPAL BILL.

I WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN. DEVONPORT COUNCIL'S VIEW. The dropping by Parliament of the Municipal Corporations Amendment Bill was warmly approved by the Devonport Borough Council yesterday. The Mayor, Mr. H. F. W. Meikle, explained the provisions of the bill, particularly regarding the proposed- clauses for the compulsory amalgamation of adjoining boroughs. It would have been necessary for a borough desiring amalgamation with its neighbour to make formal application, and then a commission, headed by a magistrate, and the Commissioner of Crown Lands, would sit and decide on the question. If this commission decided in favour, all that would have been necessary would be a declaration of amalgamation by the GovernorGeneral, and the two bodies would become one.

"There certainly appeared to be a 'nigger in the woodpile,'" remarked Mr. Meikle. Haste of this kind was suspicious, to say the least of it. Mr. G. W. Hutchings: It would mean that a borough that was in "Queer Street" financially would be able to push its responsibilities on to its neighbours. I think it should take two sides to make a bargain. The Mayor: The Government's idea seems to be that there are too many local bodies. I think a comparison of the cost of the administration of local bodies with that of cities is all in favour of the former. Newmarket, for instance, is more economically run than the city. If this bill had gone through, there would have been nothing to stop Auckland asking for amalgamation with Newmarket. (Laughter.) The council expressed thanks to the Suburban Local Bodies.' Association for ite prompt action in protesting against the proposals. ONE TEEE HILL PROTESTS. "WILL FIGHT AMALGAMATION." "As long as I have anything to do with the borough I shall light any proposal for amalgamation with the city to the last ditch." This statement was made at last evening's meeting of the One

Tree Hill Borough Council by the Mayor, Mr. I. J. Goldstine, following strong criticism of the clauses in the Municipal Corporations Bill which take away the rights of electors to decide any question of amalgamation. Mr. Goldstine alleged that the manner in which the Government had tried to get the measure, which had now been postponed until the January session, through the House had been underhand. Clause 141, which altered the method of bringing about the union of boroughs, had been quietly slipped in. Now that a postponement of the bill had been decided upon the only thing the council could do at present was to protest against the objectionable clauses. Mr. J. J. Boyqe: What is behind these objectionable clauses? The Mayor: I have my own personal views, but I think it might be better that nothing s'hould be said.on that point at the present stage. Mr. Goldstine said he thought the time was opportune for ratepayers of One Tree Hill to know what was the council's j attitude in regard to amalgamations. Personally he thought it was possible for there to be some co-ordination of the services of various municipalities, as, for instance, traffic control, but he was strongly opposed to any amalgamation with the city. "We are quite well able to manage our own affairs in One Tree Hill," he said. "When we have rates as low as they are here it would be posi;ively absurd to amalgamate with the :ity, with a consequent increase in •ates." Other members of the council also ipoke strongly against amalgamation, md it was decided to oppose the principle of compulsory amalgamation in any 'orm, and to express disapproval of any woposal to link up with the city.