PROPOSALS FOR CONTROL OF GREATER AUCKLAND

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28824, 19 February 1959, Page 7

PROPOSALS FOR CONTROL OF GREATER AUCKLAND

“Tae Press’- Special Service

AUCKLAND, February 18. New proposals for the reform of local government in Auckland have been presented to the Metropolitan Council in a personal capacity by the Town Clerk of Auckland (Mr F. J. Gwilliam). He suggested the creation of an Auckland metropolitan authority consisting of the city and the boroughs of Glen Eden, Henderson, New Lynn, Mount Roskill, Mount Albert, Mount Eden, One Tree Hill, Newmarket, Onehunga, Ellerslie, Mount Wellington and Otahuhu. The authority would administer traffic control, engineering and parking; water supply to local body boundaries; libraries; parks and reserves of a metropolitan nature; airports; maintenance and construction of metropolitan roads and bridges; metropolitan engineering works; zoo; baths; art gallery; pensioner housing; morgue; municipal abattoir and the emergency precautions scheme. Local bodies in the area would bear the cost in annual levies on a basis still to be decided. Mr Gwilliam said he would like to see full proposals considered and approved by members of the Metropolitan Council so that necessary legislation could be passed by Parliament and the authority be created on April 1, 1961. “With whole-hearted co-opera-tion by all local authorities this should be possible.” “Teething Troubles’’ There would naturally be teething troubles and difficulties especially as there was no precedent in New Zealand for establishing such an authority. Mr Gwilliam said the city would benefit by being relieved of expenditure which should properly be borne by the metropolis. Sub-

urban citizens, too, would benefit by co-ordinating existing amen.an<i obtaining new amenties which their boroughs had been unable to provide. .He was sure, said Mr Gwilliam, that the Auckland branch of the Town Clerks’ and Municipal Treasurers’ Institute would be pleased to work out details with the Metropolitan Council solicitors.

Plea Against. Delay He suggested the Auckland branch of the Town Clerks’ and Municipal Treasurers’ Institute prepare detailed legislation for consideration. He asked that the policy suggested be adopted without the delay which had previously held up or defeated similar proposals. The way would be open later for Other territorial authorities to join the authority. Transport, main drainage and the harbour bridge might also be absorbed later.

As no amalgamation was suggested, the matter did not come within the scope of the Local Government Commision.