VASSAL PROVINCE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 108, 8 May 1943, Page 4

VASSAL PROVINCE

AUCKLAND'S POSITION CENTRALISATION DANGERS The dangers inherent v in the growth of centralisation of control in New Zealand were stressed last night by Sir Ernest.Davis in his report as chairman, of the Auckland Provincial Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the New Zealand Red Cross Society at its annual meeting. "I am sorry to have no reply to our inquiry made at our last meeting asking that the question of help for Russia be given consideration," said Sir Ernest. "I have watched for some years ine growing bureaucratic system of this country being centred in Wellington until the Auckland Province is practically a vassal .province to Wellington. Sir Ernest declared that the time was long overdue for decentralisation, and said a modification of the old provincial system should be introduced. If the North Island was divided into two autonomous areas Wellington could then become the Canberra of New Zealand. Probably something like this might come some day. It would be possible by amalgamation of interests to dispense with some of the large number of existing local bodies, which would give wider and better administration.