Readers Write

Northern Advocate, 8 June 1936, Page 3

Readers Write

THE CLAIMS OF THE NORTH (To the Editor.) Sir, —Since the Chamber of Commerce suggested the separation of North Auckland under a new name from the province of Auckland, I have been endeavouring to calculate what belonging to Auckland has cost the North, and the amount of capital rightly belonging to the North that has gone to Auckland never to x-eturn. Unfortunately, it is all one way: from the North to Auckland. We have to go to Auckland in connection with our Crown lands business, and we have to go to Auckland in connection with our Supreme Court business, and take ail our witnesses with us. We have to pay travelling expenses, and we have to pay board while compelled to live temporarily in Auckland. This is a constant drain upon us that should have been stopped twenty-five yeai’s or more ago. This is the sort oL thing that builds up cities at the expense of the rural districts. They say that both Melbourne and Sydney have been built up at the expense of the country districts, and from my experience here I believe it. In the past, either the Government has been too hard on the North in not giving the facilities which other districts enjoy, or the North has been too weak to demand its rights. Which is it? — I am, etc., LOYAL TO MY OWN DISTRICT.