GREATER AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13171, 8 May 1906, Page 5

GREATER AUCKLAND.

REJECTED BY NEWMARKET.

The Newmarket Borough Council considered the Greater Auckland question at its meeting Sast evening. The Mayor (Mr. Bennett) said it was quite .unnecessary for him to say much about,' it, because the subject had been well voUilaled by the Mayor of Auckland and the press. Mr. E. Davis said Newmarket must now be up and doing in this matter, for it had been fiddling with it. too long. The .Council should put their views before ratepayers in some - tangible (shape. He moved: —

That the Finance Committee prepare a report on the subject, and. when the necessary lesal stop* have been taken, then arrangements should he made for taking a poll on the question*, The Council could not go far wrong iu following Grey Lynn. A Voice: They carried prohibition there. (Laughter.) Fie (Mr. Davis), thought the Mayor and Council of Grey Lynn deserved every credit. for the admirable way in which they had put the matter before ratepayers in that borough. Mr. Kinder moved an amendment: — That this Council has no recommendation to make on this subject. He could not see any reason for a Greater Auckland at present. Mr. Davis seemed to forget that the ratepayers could requisition a public meeting if they really wanted if. So far as he could sec, neither the borough of Newmarket nor the city of Auckland would benefit by the scheme. The fact of shifting the city boundary from Clare-mont-street to the. Mamikau Road would be useless. Only Archhill and Grey Lynn had agreed to be absorbed in a Greater Auckland, while the other local districts had dropped out. 'He thought it was time the question of lire brigade and drainage was taken in hand by more competent men. In Sydney the boundaries of the Municipalities were not allowed to affect such works of great public utility as lire brigades and drainage. He did not- think that, in the circumstances, the borough of Newmarket would benefit- at all by becoming part of a Greater Auckland. Mr. Davis thought Mr. Kinder was looking backward. The Council should lead, not be led by, the ratepayers, and it was their moral and bounden duty to place the question of Greater Auckland before the ratepayers. He was perfectly horrified that Mr. • Kinder should think as he did. (Laughter.) Newmarket would participate in the city endowments and profits to a greater extent while other boroughs held out, because its proportion would be greater. He thought Mr. Kinder took too narrow, too parochial, a view of the subject. The ratepayers were certainly under the impression that the Council intended to place the question before them. Mr. Kinder denied that he was parochial. It was simply this: He was opposed to, the scheme because he thought it was parochial itself, as at present constituted. He did not think that the scheme would be of any use to the community as a whole. The Mayor , put the amendment. There were seven for, and two against, viz., the Mayor and Mr. Davis. , Mr. Davis':" Well, you are a lot!

The motion was declared lost.

Mr. Davis : I think the ratepayers of Newmarket will petition this Council. You have only put the cart before the horse.

THE-GREY LYNN POLL.

v The question of-the Grey Lynn borough amalgamating with the Auckland city under the Greater Auckland scheme will be submitted to a poll of the ratepayers of that borough to-morrow. A bare majority of the votes polled will carry or negative the proposal. The polling booths aro as follows:—St. , George's Hall, Great North Road; Council Chamber, Rose Road; Primitive Methodist Church, Richmond Road; Church of the Epiphany Schoolroom, Great North Road.

At a meeting of the Parnell Borough Council last night Mr. Lusk gave notice of his intention to move at next meeting, '"That a poll of ratepayers be taken on the question of Parnell joining in the Greater Auckland scheme."