WAIHEKE ISLAND

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 95, 23 April 1945, Page 6

WAIHEKE ISLAND

INCORPORATION PROPOSAL CONTROL BY CITY COUNCIL The appointment of a representative committee from residents and ratepayers of Waiheke Island to discuss a proposal that the island should become part of Auckland City under the City Council's administration was suggested to a public meeting at Surfdale on Saturday by the Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs Mr. J. W. Heenan. The meeting was also addressed by Mr. F W. Schramm, member for Auckland East and Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Mr. A. G. Harper, local government officer of the Department of Internal Affairs. Mr. Heenan said the proposal was being put to the residents and ratepayers merely for their consideration. Should the scheme not be acceptable the representative committee could make alternative suggestions. The Department's suggestion was that the island should be divided into two parts, one of which would be a special rating area which would not be subject to city rates, but to a special rate, revenue from which would be spent entirely in the area. The other part would not be rated except for hospital levies which were already in existence. The City Council would form a Waiheke committee, continued Mr. Heenan, and this would include coopted members chosen from electors of the island while an advisory committee would be formed to assist the council's committee. Detailing the advantages of Waiheke's incorporation in the city, Mr. Heenan said county administration was not wide enough to deal with the island's problems. It was decided that further meetings be held in each of the island districts when representatives on a committee to investigate the question would be appointed.