A UNITED FRONT.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 858, 2 July 1910, Page 3

A UNITED FRONT.

MEETING OF AUCKLAND 'MEM- . BERS. . v COMMITTEE APPOINTED. A electorates in the .Auckland Province was held yesterday to consider the proposal to come' to an agreement to pre-' sent a united front in' matters affecting the general interests of : the • province. Tlhe '.conveners,,of,, the meeting were Messrs./Lawry,-Myers,••Lang;- and Phillipps. -- -Mr. Lawrv was voted to tho chair, and nearly all the provincial members were present. Mr. Lang recalled the fact that several Parliaments ago Auckland members had met; from time to time to discuss matters-.of,general' interest to tho province, .aid.-vagreeupon concerted action. Oji that, .occasion the scheme had not worked too satisfactorily. He suggested that Auckland members should try "and ' arrange for a Parliimentary party to travel by special train to „the.".'Auckland show.' Mr. Greenalade said Auckland members only desired to' receive fair play in respect .to,.the, allocation of money for roads, bridges;.and public works.'lt would be extremely helpful if the members could meet ■ from time to time, and discuss matters, and tlien> impress their needs on the House.

Mr. Poole said there, was. no foundation for the: assumption that city members were opposed to country members. The debate ih : the House the-previous night wm not calculated to advance this objects 'of the meeting. ; "We fly off the handle," sa,id Mr. Poole, "and get a. row going that reveals our weakness to other members of the Legislature." . - 1

' Mr. Poole moved that a' committee be' appointed to prepare a report on Auckland's fair needs in the'.matter of grants, and'repoTt.'to a future meeting, the committee to consist of Messrs. Lawry, Greehslade, Myers, Bollard, Mander, Lang,' and Poole, with power to add to their.numbers.

Mr. Glover said lie would' do all he could t-o assist'in''the' project.

, Mr. Poland'.said members were inclined to exaggerate- the seriousness of the squabble of the previous evening. In such a large province as Auckland he thought that was inevitable. Differences on local questions, however, would not prevent. all . members from working together •on questions of general interest to the province. Mr. Phillipps denied_ that Auckland members ' were,,., arraying themselves against the rest of New Zealand. _ It was. simply. !• a-. movement to get , ; just treatment for Auckland. .'' ■

Mr. Myers advocated justice' for this. ,North; but not in any parochial spirit. He deprecated the insinuation of Southern members that Auckland was forming a combination against the South. The province had certain claims, and if' Southern members liked to call them grievances, well tliey were entitled to do so. TJp to- the present the requirements of the North had not been satisfactorily fulfilled. If minor matters were sunk he believed that the support of Southern members could be obtained, or he believed they could be convinced that the worts were of national importance.. , Mr. Bollard said that whenever there was any claim from the South, Southern members .united to a man in'support'of it. '-.Had th'e • facilities for travel been as good then as they were now the seat of Government.would.never have been removed" from -Auckland. When the growbh£and' advantages 1 of- Auckland were considered he thought the. seat of Government would then be in Auckland withija- 50 years;- . -

Mr. Massey expressed his willingness to co-operate with tie Auckland members in the. matter. :

Mr.. Poole's motion was carried. Mr. Mander' thought that' instead of this being.a provincial matter all'Noiih Island members, should be asked' to join in. The North Island had not got justice because it had not proper representation ill Cabinet. That was a primary wrong.that should be righted, Mr. Jennings said he would support any proposals adopted by the Auckland members.'

Several ..other members ,also. spoke. The chairman was authorised to call a further meeting of tho committee and of members'. - ■