GREATER AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19891, 9 March 1928, Page 11

GREATER AUCKLAND.

METROPOLITAN BOARD PLAN,

CITY COUNCIL CRITICISED.

" BLOCKING WAY TO PROGRESS."

In pursuance of his controversy with the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, and the Auckland City Council over questions of municipal policy, Mr. E. H. Potter, Mayor of Mount Eden, made a further statement yesterday.

"The Mayor of Auckland and Mr. A Hum, chairman of the Water Committee, evidently consider criticism to be a dangerous weapon, but as their policy, adversely affects large areas outside the city they could scarcely expect there would be no criticism," Mr. Totter said. "The water problem, which the local bodies consider is of provincial character, was treated by the City Council as something that would affect its smaller r.cheme, and it used its utmost endeavours to block tho formation of a water board.

"The City Council's promotion of legislation to control traflic demonstrates its willingness to interfere with the progress and expansion of Auckland throughout the greater area. Its traflic policy has proved an absolute failure, and has''resulted in considerable loss to the districts affected, as well as to itself. It objects to the formation of a metropolitan board, which has been advocated by many leading citizens and by local body representatives. Such a board would deal with the problems of water, transport, town planning, fire prevention and similar matters, while leaving local matters to the local body. The proposal is one designed to keep pace with the progress and expansion which is iji evidence, but the City Council will have none of it, and persistently stands in the way.

"The Mayor refers to a particular local body, but this scheme is not for one local body, but for all the local bodies within the area. If Auckland is to continue to progress, provision must be mado for tho utility services throughout the greater area, and these must be controlled by the people concerned and not by one section of them. Good work is being done in local matters by different local bodies; there is nothing to be said for putting all this voluntary effort on one side in order to concentrate all matters in the hands of one looal body, whih has already its own local problems to consider."