AMALGAMATION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 181, 1 August 1936, Page 19

AMALGAMATION.

BIRKENHEAD VIEW.

ALWAYS FAVOURED UNION

STATEMENT BY MAYOR.

The question of the advisability of some form of local body amalgamation on the North Shore has been much diecussed recently, partly due to the statement of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, that the Government would favour the reduction of the number of local bodies in the Dominion. The matter has been considered at local body meetings; a conference has been called by Takapuna, and generally public interest has been aroused. Birkenhead's view of the proposition is set out in a statement made this morning by the Mayor of that borough, Mr. G. Mills. "Birkenhead," said Mr. Mills," has always favoured amalgamation. In fact, in January, 1934, this borough council passed a resolution favouring the attempt at bringing about some form of union between the four North Shore boroughs. A meeting was convened at Northcotc, and anotliei, at a later date, at Birkenhead, to discuss ways and means of arriving some definite solution of the question."

Devonport, he added, was not represented at those meetings, but a letter was received giving reasons for nonattendance.

Mr. Mills said he could assure other local bodies that his council was still of the same opinion now as in 1934, and was so for no other reason than that it considered tliat the management of public services would be more satisfactory under joint control. He hoped, too, that such union would .lay the foundation for future development in the way of foads, footpaths, streets and other utilities which would go to build a united front on the North Shore.

"I wish to mention," he said, that Birkenhead has no ulterior motive in its advocacy. The borough has a lower rate per capita than any other borough on the North Shore, and its own equipment is being steadily built up to meet the demands of all public services."