THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13781, 20 June 1908, Page 4

THE DRAINAGE PROBLEM.

There are two questions of supreme importance now before the local bodies of the metropolitan area, that of drainage and that of Greater Auckland. In our opinion they cannot be separated, but must be merged into one if an intelligent consistency is to govern the negotiations now proceeding. It is therefore satisfactory to note that during the discussion at the meeting of the Local Bodies Committee held last evening to consider the Drainage Bill, it was stated that the adoption of the Bill did not necessarily mean the shelving of the Greater Auckland scheme, but that the measure might rather be considered as a >; temporary expedient,'"' that would in all probability form a steppingstone to the formation of one great municipality. Drainage cannot be avoided. The insanitary condition of the metropolitan area and the increasing defilement of the harbour, compel action—and the simplest form of action is to amalgamate the discordant local bodies into one great municipality. The Drainage Bill avoids the intolerable difficulty of an unmanageable Drainage Board, comprising representatives of every local body interested in the Main Outfall Sewer, by placing the control of this solely in the hands of the Auckland City Council, local bodies contributing upon a prearranged and equitable basis. If they wish to share control they can join Greater Auckland. As Mr. Myers pointed out, in throwing oil on the troubled waters last evening, the separation of local authorities is only by lines on the map, and while preferring a Greater Auckland scheme, the city is going out of its way to help the local bodies. The actual position is plain. We. have, reached a point in civic development when the amalgamation of local me-

tropolitan authorities is imperative. Mr Midgely Taylor clearly asserted that Drainage Boards have been proved unworkable, and it is known to everybody that the unnecessary multiplication of authorities is* most, detrimental to good management. It is.obviously impossible to satisfy the public and the local authorities, or even to discuss drainage, without, raising the Greater Auckland question, and the sooner this is realised by all concerned the better. Several misunderstandings were removed by the freedom and frankness with which the Drainage Bill was discussed last evening, and its adoption by the committee in a practically unaltered form is a matter for sincere congratulation.