Plans For Second City At Auckland

Press, Volume C, Issue 29415, 18 January 1961, Page 14

Plans For Second City At Auckland

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Jan. 17. The Local Government Commission has issued its final scheme for the amalgamation of North Shore (Auckland) boroughs into the City of North Shore and a month is now allowed for appeals against this scheme. The final scheme is similar to the provisional scheme issued on February 15, 1960, but includes a recommendation that a poll of electors be taken in each of the affected districts and the area in the Waitemata county to be incorporated in the new city. The provisional scheme was objected to by the councils or Birkenhead. Devonport, East Coast Bays, Northcote and Takapuna boroughs, the Waitemata county, the North Shore Fire Board, and one private resident.

The commission conducted a public inquiry into the objections on June 8 and 9, 1960. dismissed the objections and decided to issue a final scheme on the lines outlined.

It was, however, decided to postpone the final scheme for two reasons.

First, the Local Bills Committee of the House of Representatives had brought down a report which might have led to a reorganisation of the commission and its powers, and Second, the issue of a final scheme at that time would have involved the districts affected in an election on local body issues at or about the same time as the 1960 Parliamentary elections, which have been undesirable. . The report of the commission issued today addsHowever, as the then Government was unable to take any action during the last session to implement any of the recommendations of the Local Bills Committee, and as the holding of the polls recommended in the final scheme will not now coincide with the Parliamentary elections, the commission has decided to promulgate its final scheme forthwith.

After stating that any local authority affected by the final scheme may appeal against its provisions within one month, the commission’s’ report says that a private individual cannot appeal. The polls recommended in the final scheme are to be taken on a day to be appointed

by the local authority of the district not later than three months after the last day for lodging appeals or, in the case where an appeal is made, within three months after the date of the decision of the appeal authority. Subject to the decision of the appeal authority in respect of any appeal and to the results of the polls, effect may be given to a final scheme by the GovernorGeneral by an Order-in-Coun-cil prepared by the Department of Internal Affairs. The operative date of the Order-in-Council is usually decided upon after consultation between the department and the affected local authorities. The final scheme in recommending a poll states “that polls of electors of the following districts and areas are to be taken on the proposal, and then names the North Shore boroughs and part of the Birkenhead riding of the Waitemata county.