GREATER AUCKLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 139, 13 June 1936, Page 8

GREATER AUCKLAND.

A CENTENARY OBJECTIVE

AMALGAMATION PROBLEMS,

(Bv ERIC H. HALSTEAD, M.A.)

The problem of local government and the question of local body reform has been taken up by the Minister of Internal Affairs. His Worship the Mayor of Auckland, however, took the initiative last year, when he suggested the achievement, by 1940, of the amalgamation of ail local bodies in the Auckland isthmus, and that the anniversary ot Auckland should be commemorated by the establishment of a metropolitan al,th " ° govern the local affairs of the whole urban and suburban area. The question of local body reform does not concern Auckland alone. It is a na ion. and even a world-w.de problem. The lapid development of great cit.es throughout tlie world and the extension of democrat c pun eiples to local ! government within tl.e la. hundred years have raised adlminiistrati legislative and economic problems foi trie local authorities concerned. The 'greaterciy principle has been trie* as a solution m many parte of the world. Its application has met with varying success. Where amalgamation has been gradual and effected upon a firm financial basis, it has succeeded. 1,1 Britain the principle lias had rcmaikable success. Glasgow, for instance, has one metropolitan authority which owns and controls the water, pas and electricity supplies, markets and slaughterhouses, parks and art cilleries; it pays and manages the police; it owns land and has a building construction organisation of its own; it owns ferries, tramways and docks; it aids in the control of -the navigation of the Clyde; ,t employs 14 000 j people 01. its staff; it owns eight public baths ! with laundries attached. Only a unified city could carry on such great under takings. Failure in the United States. On the other hand, in the United States the wholesale annexation of all outlying municipalities and the establishment of one 'city council lias proved excessively burden some to, the ratepayers concerned. Tlie "<'reater city" principle, generally, has failed in its application to American municipal conditions. This is partly duo to the absenc*of public spirit and the existence of corrupt influences in municipal elections. 1 lie doctrine governing American public life states that every public employee should be directly answerable to the people. The result in local government has been disastrous. In the larger cities elections are so overloaded with details that the mass of voters have no time lor them, and their control has fallen into the hands of corrupt party "bosses" and their bands of "heelers." Complete amalgamation was tried in Brisbane (City of Brisbane Act, 1024). Unfortunately, the Greater Brisbane Council inaugurated an intensive policy of borrowing for public works and buildings at the beginning of a period of economic depression. A strong body of Brisbane opinion now condemns amalgamation. Other Australian cities have partially applied the principle, x but their efforts were preceded, and, to a certain extent, directed by the important experiments'of New Zealand local administrations. The "greater city" principle, as far as it has been applied in this country, has been successful, and perhaps it is seen at its best here. The frenzy for census increase, which characterised the "greater city" movement in the United States, is absent, for in New Zealand the citv census is that of the whole metropolitan area. Christchurcli, Dunedin and Wellington have their "greater city" movements, and although they are not complete, as far as it has been carried out the application of the principle has been successful.

"Greater Auckland" Movement. Auckland lias somewhat lagged behind the other cities in the development of the "greater city," although the movement which embodies the principle of Greater Auckland began in the early years of the present century. In 1005 Mr. A. Myers was elected .Mayor on the assurance that he would advocate tjie amalgamation of the local bodies with the city. Subsequently, at a meeting of the representatives of all local bodies, held on January 24, 1900, the Mayor submitted a report which is remarkable in that it laid down a comprehensive scheme of amalgamation, which has directly influenced the policy of subsequent city administrations. The echeme may have been premature, but it undoubtedly facilitated the ultimate amalgamation of those borough's whose boundaries were contiguous with those of the" city. Parnell, Grey Lynn and Arch Hill would not have amalgamated as soon as they did if the principle of amalgamation had ?not been suggested by the report of 190(5. In the ve.ars preceding the war the movement made considerable progress. As part of the policy of the City Council, amalgamation proceeded apace from 1913 to 1921,, no less than seven local bodies uniting with the city. A halt was called in 1921. The existing suburban authorities were beginning to enjoy the greatest prosperity New Zealand had ever known, and were gaining considerable pride in the rapid development of their By maintaining their independence they apparently had everything to gain. Essential services (trams, electricity, water, drainage, etc.) were either supplied by local "ad hoc" authorities, or were purchased from the city. The extension of city services to the suburbs was carried out by loans "borne by city ratepayers. In roading and rating privileges some of the more important boroughs rivalled the city. Money was plentiful, prices were high, and the standard of living was rising. Local authorities with progressive ideas found their loan proposals readily acceptable.

City Begins to Doubt. These factors checked amalgamation, but the City Council was thus provided with an opportunity to consolidate its control over the great area which it administered. Since 1912 its area had increased from 1005 acres to 7844 acres, and the population had risen from 40,530 to 53,407. However, with the trend of the population to the suburbs, the City Council i was conscious of the necessity for co-ordination of local body administration and efficiency in public expenditure. Although the city' was willing to consider amalgamation, doubts were beginning to arise as to the city's capacity to absorb outlying districts upon conditions acceptable to the residents concerned. In 1927 the city absorbed Orakei and Tamaki under particularly unfavourable conditions. The absorption of Avondale in the same year was definitely an obligation. Nevertheless, amalgamation lias been in the best interests of these districts. The wealthier suburbs have steadfastly refused to consider amalgamation, and meanwhile, upon their demand, the city has had to relinquish several regional services and utilities. "Ad hoc" bodies now control these service? With this multiplication of local authorities in recent years, the problem of local government has widened. lii 1931, regarding Greater Auckland as the only practical solution to the problem of municipal reform in the Auckland isthmus, the finance committee of the City Council recommended that conditional amalgamation be offered to' Newmarket, Mount Eden and Mount Albert. The city's conditions were not satisfactory, and although modified in March, 1934, as yet the amalgamation of these areas has ) not been achieved. It is left to the new city administration to fulfil the scheme as ; originally laid down in 1900. His Worship the I Mayor has suggested the fullest application of ' the "greater city" principle, and it will be interesting to see if some .solution consistent with civic responsibility and progress can be . obtained when the local bodies meet in conference.