THE " GREATER AUCKLAND" SCHEME.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 12555, 22 April 1904, Page 6

THE " GREATER AUCKLAND" SCHEME.

SIMILAR MOVEMENT IN DUNEDIN. The subject of "Greater Auckland," which is now engaging the attention of somo of our city and suburban municipal authorities, was referred to in the course of a conversation which a member of the Herald staff had last evening with Mr. T. Scott, Mayor of Dunedin z who is now on a visit to Auckland. In answer to a question as to how. far the amalgamation movement had proceeded in the Southern city, Mr. Scott stated that the matter was now in abeyance, pending the report of a commit which had been appointed to investigate the affairs of the city and the suburban boroughs, with a view of devising an equitable and satisfactory scheme, by which the several bodies might' be formed into a " Greater Duuedin." This committee is composed of men of actuarial experience, chosen from outside the various councils, and, judging from the remarks made by the speakers at the "Greater Auckland" meeting on Wednesday night, a similar committee will probably be appointed in Auckland in the event of the general principle of amalgamation being affirmed by the various bodies interested. Mr. Scott states that the residents of the eight boroughs adjoining the city of Dunedin. are generally favourable to joining the city, although opposition has been shown by some of the borough councils to the proposal. The feeling in the . city is also a friendly one, subject, of course, to the terms of union being satisfactory from the financial point of view. Mr. ' Scott considers that, given an acceptable and workable basis of union, many good purposes Mould be served by amalgamation, especially in respect to drainage matters. At present the drainage of Duuedin and district is controlled by a Drainage Board, but this system of divided authority bus not been found to be an unqualified success With a "Greater Duuedin" the Drainage Board could be dispensed with, and its functions taken over by the Council of the extended municipality. This, in the opinion of Mr. Scott, would work much' more satisfactorily than the present system