PARNELL AND GREATER AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 15170, 9 December 1912, Page 6

PARNELL AND GREATER AUCKLAND.

To-day a poll of the ratepayers of Parnell will be taken to decide whether or not the borough shall join the city, and thus become part and parcel of that Greater Auckland which must be regarded as inevitable in the near future. There can be no doubt whatever as to the result of the poll if • reason and commonsense alone influence the ratepayers in the casting of their votes. In the public discussions and newspaper correspondence that have preceded the poll the arguments in favour of the proposed change have immeasurably outweighed those advanced against it. It has been shown beyond all manner of cavil or question that Parnell has absolutely nothing to lose by joining the city, but on the contrary has everything to gain. From whatever point of view the matter is regarded it is the city and not Parnell that will be called upon to make sacrifices for the sake of union. The only real objection that may possibly linger in the minds of some of the ratepayers of Parnell is due to the fear that incorporation in the city will increase the rates they are now paying. But as has been clearly proved that fear is wholly groundless. There is not an iota of justification for it. Not only are the rates now levied in the borough and in the city practically identical—if the financial position of Parnell were squarely faced they would be actually higher in the borough— the Mayor of Auckland has'given a distinct promise that they will not be increased beyond their present amount and that the whole of them will continue to be spent in Parnell. No outside local body could possibly ask for fairer or more liberal terms. It is inconceivable, therefore, that there should be any hesitation on the part of the Parnell ratepayers in accepting them. We have no desire to speak disparagingly of the suburban boroughs and road boards that are now confronted with extinction by absorption owing to the rapid growth and expansion of the city of Auckland. In the early days, the days of small things, they answered a laudable and useful purpose. They encouraged the spirit of local government, of parochial patriotism if we may so describe it, and performed much good and necessary work. But it must be obvious to every dispassionate observer that their day is past, that they are anachronisms in the changed conditions of modern times, that they are no longer able to keep pace with the imperative necessities of their ever-increasing populations and are in truth serious obstacles to the march of improvement, the adoption of public utilities, and the natural and harmonious growth of a great civic centre. The old order, however, like the veteran who lags superfluous on the stage, is frequently hard to get rid of. Sentiment, vested interests and personal feelings combine to give it an astonishing tenacity. But we have no fear that .they will play an appreciable part in to-day's poll in Parnell. The intelligence and good sense of the great majority of the ratepayers of that borough can safely be left to decide the issue. The advantages that Parnell would gain by joining the city are too palpable and undeniable to be affected by calculated distortions or despairing appeals. The borough would immediately become a copartner in all the solid benefits which accrue from the wealth, enterprise, and organisation of the city. Ponsonby is a striking object lesson in this connection. Before it wisely resolved to merge itself into the city its condition was as backward as that of Parnell to-day. Now it is one of the i most progressive and up-to-date districts 01 Auckland. It has an admir- | able drainage system, well-formed and channelled streets, a splendid public library, a spacious and picturesque public park, salt water swimming baths, the electric light, arid all the conveniences which one ..expects to find in an efficiently administered city. And what Ponsonby has gained Parnell will gain in like measure by becoming part of the city. It is therefore plainly the duty, having regard to their own interests, of the ratepayers of Parnell to vote to-day in favour of the proposal submitted to 'then** v