GREATER AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19721, 22 August 1927, Page 12

GREATER AUCKLAND.

Sir,—Councillor L. A. Eady is to be congratulated on the stand taken by him in respect to the question of the amalgamation of outside areas with the city. Prior to the last meeting of the council I was unaware of the policy of the council as regards amalgamation. Mr. Allum, however, made the position quite clear when he stated that it had been agreed to take in areas bounded by the Waitemala, the Manukau, the Tamaki and the VVhau. When this' astounding agreement was arrived at and whether it was come to in open council I do not know. -Certainly a more fatuous idea could not be conceived. What possible arguments can be put forward in favour of the proposal from the viewpoint of the citv 1 Has the city So few problems to soive that it yearns to take on its shoulders still more ? Is it sound finance to spread the limited moneys available over a still greater area ? The only argument in favour of the idea is that amalgamation gives Our councillors a grand opportunity to relate to visitors the astounding development that has taken place in the city under the present regime. That the outside areas should be keenly in favour of amalgamation is not to be wondered at. Point Chevalier was a poverty-stricken district until the city very compassionately took mercy on it. What was the result* Money that should have been spent on the city proper was diverted to Point Chevalier and, as pointed out by Mr. Eady, the rates were increased by threepence. Without .doubt similar results will follow from the Avondale joinder. And yet' the members of the council go on their way quite unconcernedly. Facts and figures do not worry them. They are obesssed with the idea that the larger the area and the greater the ponulation, tho better for the city. The disastrous results of amalgamation may be fully realised if we consider for a moment tramway problem. Tf, instead of being encumbered with a number of outlying districts, the citv had been prepared to work within a limited area it would not now be faced with frightful transport, difficult ies. Such districts could have made their own arrangements as to transport and would have been well served hv pri'vato enterprise. Thanks -to our benevolence we are now saddled with thousands of pounds' worth of useless buses. What surprises me is that, the citizens in the closely-populated areas do not protest Tt must be obvious to them that they will have to pay for tho benefits con ferred on tjie new districts Not only this, but the buses have been used for tho purpose of conveying passengers to the amalgamated districts, and the losses sustained throiiph the running of such buses will have to be borne bv the whole of the ratepayers, most of whom never use a bus. No wonder tho residents of Avondale are happy. Verax.