SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12269, 13 May 1903, Page 1 (Supplement)

SPECIAL INTERVIEWS.

A GREATER ONEHUNGA.

A CHAT WITH MR. 11. B. MORTON.

At a meeting of ratepayers recently held in the One-treo Hill district, the chairman of the Road Board (Mr. 11. B. Morton) made an interesting statement in respect of the con-

centration of local bodies. All ovor the colony a public opinion hag sprung up in favour of centralisation of local government. Henco we have in the South a Greater Christen and in the North a strongly manifested desire on the part of a large section ot the public foi a Greater Auckland. The idea of a Greatei Onehunga is therefore only iu keeping with the general trend of ideas. Many anomalies arise out of the present method of conducting public affairs in the suburbs. A correspondent referred the other day to the fact that the rates on the properties on the east side of part of Manukaii Road were collected ,by the One-tree Hill Hoard, albeit the road, itself was under the control of the Epsom Board, who declined to undertake the formation ot a footpath on the said portion. To simplify matters our correspondent suggested an amalgamation of the districts of Reinuera, One-tree Hill, Epsom, and Mount Roskill with Onehunga, so as to form a large and important city. ,In support of this he urged that: "Population is increasing with the greatest rapidity in all the districts around One-tree Hill, and out of these and Onehunga, having the Manukax. as the port and centre, a city would very soon be created which might almost rival Auckland in wealth and influence. Then in a decade or two it would be,a comparatively easy matter for the two cities to join hands and the entire isthmus to be brought under* one great civic administration." With a. view to securing further information in regard to this interesting question a Herald reporter called • upon Mr. H. B. Morton (chairman of the- One-tree Hill Board) yesterday. Mr. Morton submitted cheerfully to an interview. By way of introduction, he said: " Although the merging of the Onetrce Hill district with surrounding areas could only mean direct loss to this locality, owing to its low rating and sound financial position, there can be no doubt that some system of amalgamation Is desirable. The road districts of Remuera, One-tree Hill, Epsom, and Mount Boskill would probably form one suitable sphere of local government. In tho not distant future these might join with the Borough of Onehunga to form a city that would be second in natural advantages to few in New Zealand. Under the present diffusion of effort caused by the numerous and sometimes conflicting local bodies, such matters ■"■ as drainage, public health, lighting, and water supply are difficult to initiate and generally beyond tho means or individual small local bodies, to satisfactorily carry out." "That appears to be a very concise statement of the position," said our reporter. "Could you amplify it in any way?" " During my experience as chairman of the One-tree Hill district, extending over twelve years, I have been continually confronted with the difficulty of carrying out any comprehensive plan of _«form, owing to conflicting interests arising out of the multiplication of local bodies. It appears to me that, as we have interests in common, representatives of the various district authorities should meet together fo» the purpose of discussing the position in a friendly way. In my opinion it would be found or advantage to merge our different, and. under the present system, occasionally conflicting, interests and form one powerful local body." " What are the difficulties which could be overcome by a fusion ot the present local bodies?"

"The difficulty of an effort in common has been especially felt with regard to such matters as drainage, sanitary inspection, and the driving of cattle on roads; also, the maintenance of the main arterial thoroughfares. Then, again, with regard to tramways. Numerous questions have arisen and friction has been caused owing to the large number of local bodies that have had to be consulted.";

• "What about the water supply?" "That is a matter which has, to some extent, been dealt with already. Representatives from this district and Epsom met for friendly consultation and arranged a**watei supply for the district. On the basis of that arrangement a loan' has been floated, and an admirable supply of water has been introduced. The adjacent districts of Remuera and Mount Roskill have since come under the scheme, and there is some talk of Newmarket joining. '■ But it must strike any observer as anomalous that there should be no fewer than; three purveyors of waterif I may so describe themon this isthmus, Auckland,' : Onehunga, and the Manukau Water Trust each having their separate sources of supply, separate plants, and separate staffs." "What about the drainage?" " There the advantagein fact, the neces—of co-operative effort has been shown in the formation of the Mount Hobson watershed drainage scheme, by which a system of drainage has been completed that will in part benefit this district, Remuera, Newmarket, Mount Eden, and Epsom. At the same time it will bo seen that this merely touches the fringe or the question, as a much larger and more comprehensive system must be inaugurated in view of the rapidly growing population."

" You have works that require a skilled engineer. Would the various road districts you have mentioned be better off in this respect if amalgamated?"

Unquestionably. Each of the local bodies has to depend upon a very casual and inefficient system of engineering. There is in. fact, so far as I know, no local body outside the city of Auckland that employs regularly a first-class engineer. Were amalgamation tefc take place, however, it would easily be within the moans of the local' authority to obtain the services of a competent man, and by this means no doubt much waste would be saved."

" What about the financial aspect of the question?" Assuredly that is a point of view we cannot afford to ignore. I lave already indicated several ways in which economy of administration would be secured. It is evident, too, that half-a-dozen or more merely local bodies, each employing its own staff, must absorb an unnecessarily largo amount in office and other expenses." " The expenditure of your own Board is, I understand, very small?" " It is lower «han that of any other neighbouring authority. From this aspect it is rather self-denying of us. to suggest amalgamation. Our office expenses are only trivial, and out taxation is very light. We should, therefore, be the losers so fat as the taxes are concerned if we joined the surroundin b districts. But that is taking rather a narrow view of the question. In such matters one must adopt a far broader standpoint than that of mere self-interest. In very many ways— some few of which 1 have endeavoured to point outthe constitution or a Greater Onehunga out of the surrounding small districts is a consummation greatly to be wished."

" One more question. Mr. Morton. Would not a Greater Auckland scheme, if formulated along the linos that have been suggested in some quarters, swallow up Onehunga and all the small districts contiguous to it?" " I think there is ample room for the two schemes. .Just at present at all events it would be vory difficult to place the entire isthmus under one governing body. That might come about in the course of time, but not yet. Undoubtedly there is a movement in the country in favour of the concentration of administrative bodies."

Mr. D. Sutherland, Mayo, or Onehunga, was also questioned on the subject. He confessed that he had not thought it out, and was content to leave the matter in the hands of the ratepayers, who, he said, would have to bo consulted before such a scheme could be adopted. On. thing, however, he bad been thinking about, viz., a concentration of effort on the part of all the local bodies from Auckland to Onehunga, with a view to arranging a time-table for the tramways on lines that would be suitable to all parties. " Something of the nature of a Tramway Board," suggested our reporter? "Yes, a bodj representative of all the local lxulies, to take charge of matters connected with the tramways and see that a time-table is arranged which will convenience the whole ot the districts."