LOCAL BODIES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 261, 4 November 1933, Page 6

LOCAL BODIES.

MERGER PROCEDURE. PROVISIONS EXTENDED. NORTH SHORE OPPOSITION. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, this day.

Procedure for the amalgamation of boroughs has been extended in the Municipal Corporations Bill, which has been introduced in the House. The legislation at present enables boroughs to unite after a poll of the electors has approved this proposal, each borough concerned having presented a petition to the Governor-General asking for the proclamation of the united borough. The new measure deals with the situation which might arise through one of the boroughs in the proposed enlarged area failing to present the necessary petition in favour of amalgamation. In this case, the new bill states that the Government may direct a commission consisting of a magistrate, the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the laud district, and a district valuer, to inquire and report whether the proposed united borough should be constituted. "If the commission reports in favour of the proposal," continues the new clause, "the Governor-General may by proclamation constitute the boroughs affected one united borough, and such several boroughs shall, on a date to be specified in the proclamation become and be such one borough accordingly under this Act."

An intimation that the North Shore boroughs would oppose the clause was given by Mr. A. Harris (Coalition I>eform, Waitemata), who said he had received resolutions on the subject from the authorities concerned. The , North Shore boroughs were not adverse to amalgamation —indeed, there was a mo\'A in that direction in progress —but they held that the people concerned should' have the right to say, by referendum, whether they should amalgamate, and not merely because such' a step was recommended by a commission.

"The Minister will have the strongest objections from my district when the matter comes before the House," Mr. Harris added.