GREATER AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14345, 15 April 1910, Page 7

GREATER AUCKLAND.

A DESIRABLE INNOVATION.

VIEWS OF PUBLIC MEN.

Tub "Greater Auckland scheme has been again brought into prominence by the suggestion of the Mayor of Newmarket (Mr. E. Davis) for an amalgamation between Auckland City and the Borough of Newmarket. The opinions of several wellknown citizenc on the matter were sought by a Hkralu representative yesterday. Mr. Arthur Myers said the Mayor of Newmarket was making a. move in the right direction, and should his proposition be carried out. the benefits that would accrue would be so apparent that a splendid lead would be given to other local bodies to do likewise. The assimilation should take place gradually and it was advisable that the districts contiguous to the city should come in first.

The '.Mayor of Grey Lynn (Mr. W. J. Holdswortli) thought that as far as Newmarket was concerned the idea was a good one. In his own borough, he said, a number of important works were at present, being carried out, and until these were finished, no move in the direction of amalgamation would be made by them. He had no doubt, however, that in time to come* Grey Lynn would place itself in the hands of the Auckland City Council.

The chairman of the One-tree Hill Road Board (Mr. E. W. Burton) said that he was. strongly in favour of Greater Auckland. Road boards could not afford a superintending engineer, and as districts grew and expanded the foreman had to undertake work which was in many cases beyond him. By joining the city they would have the benefit of an engineer, and his assistants, and as a result o fthis a proper supervision of the works in hand would be available. Unquestionably the road districts were not at present getting the same conveniences for the same expenditure as the city. The feeling of the inhabitants of the One-tree Hill district was in favour of the proposed scheme for the purpose of securing a more perfect form of administration.

The chairman of the Remuera Road Board (Mr. J. Demps-cy) expressed the opinion that as at present constituted the ratable value of the ttorougn of Newmarket did not give the authorities enough scope for dealing with the work required to be done. The opening of the newbridge would divert a great deal of traffic through the district, and the roads would require mote attention. Questioned as to whether he thought that Remuera would amalgamate with the City Council, Mr. Dempsey said he could see no reason for entertaining the idea of such a step at present.

The Mayors of Parnell and Mount Eden declined to give an opinion on the subject. In Mount Eden, however, it is understood that the Borough Council is strongly in favour of the formation of a Greater Auckland under certain conditions, and that had it not been for the fact that a portion of the Eden Terrace district lies between them and the city, a move in this direction would have been made by the Council some time ago.