AUCKLAND AND SOUTHERN CITIES.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 14275, 10 February 1912, Page 4

AUCKLAND AND SOUTHERN CITIES.

THE MAYOR OF AUCKLAND IM-

PRESSED

(SPECIAL TO "THE PHESfI.") AUCKLAND, February 9.

That Auckland has something to learn from Southern cities is tho candid confession of the Mayor. Yesterday Mr Parr returned from a visit to "Wellington and Christchurch; and this morning he informed a "Star" representative that he was much impressed with the excellence of the streets in both cities. "I am afraid that we havo much to learn," he said, " from both Wellington and Christ* church. Sometimes it has been said that we do not epend enough money on our streets; It must be remembered, however, that relatively, wo spend far more in street construction and maintenance than any of the southern centres. It has been said that our metal is poor, but the Wellington metal is no better. AVellington, with its 150 miles of streets, as against our fifty-six miles, shows much better results. In Christchurch tho streets are splendid, and thej have achieved' much with the tar treatment. The expenditure in Christchurch last..year was £24,000, spread over 150 miles of streets. Our allocation for tho year was just the same amount, but Christchurch, it must l>e borne in mind, has three times the road's surface,to maintain as compared.vto ours, yet tho results they get- are incomparably better." "We are now asking the city engineer to investigate the whole, "working of his department both inside and out." added Mr Parr, " and to make such recommendations as will lead to thorough reorganisation, and much more complete efficiency, '■. than has obtained in tho past."