CITY SERVICES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22579, 18 November 1936, Page 15

CITY SERVICES

MORE CO-OPERATION SUBURBAN APPROVAL KEW COMMITTEE FOIiMED 'A WIDE REPRESENTATION "We Iwu: met to consider the fori {nation of a Permanent Metropolitan Committee to which may be referred for examination ami advice any ques- | tions of ,i metropolitan character which jnay arise, and thus provide the foundation for a fuller measure of co- ' operation between the constituent local authorities ' said the Mayor, Air. Krncst Davis, when opening the first meeting of delegates at the City Coun- [ oil Chamber last night. Air. Davis added that the part played by tho evolution of time in the distribution of tho population of Auckland was sometimes overlooked, yet it was a fact that intensive settlement had radiated from the centre of the city, which, at increasing cost to itself, had continued to make its amenities available to citizens, irrespective of their place of residence in tho metropolitan area.. The bodies represented in addition to the Auckland City Council wero the boroughs of Mount Eden, Mount Albert. One Tree Hill, Newmarket, Onebunga, New Lynn and Otahuhu, the road districts of Mount Roskill and Mount Wellington, the town districts of Eilerslie, Glen Eden and Henderson. and the Panmuro township road board. Twelve Main Issues In tracing the steps which had led to this conference Air. Davis said he knew of the desire of the suburban Alavors to promote better relationships between the City Council and the contiguous local authorities, an aim which had his unqualified support.. It had been agreed at an informal conference that the district to bo covered by the committee's activities should be that contemplated by the proposed Auckland metropolitan drainage area and that the committee should comprise the Alavors and chairmen or their deputies'of the local authorities within that area. On a preliminary survey there were at least 12 issues or subjects of interest upon which metropolitan deliberation could appropriately be brought to bear. These, while not necessarily scheduled in their order of importance, were:—Point England Airport, Fine Arts Centre,: public libraries, parks and reserves, Zoological Park, beautifica- - tion, control of traffic, town planning, re-naming of streets, research in public administration, municipal transport station, unification of essential services and the co-ordination of coronation festivities. Future of Airport Dealinf with the question of the airport, Air. Davis said that as Auckland was likelv to become a port of call for overseas air services it was believed that Point England, if adopted, was destined to become a most important airport. In this event a thoroughly efficient direct highway to the city would be required at some future time., This, together with a railway connection, could be provided. proposal which he had made to the Government, that in the event of the interested local bodies acquiring the land, the State should make itself responsible for the development of the airport, was still uncier consideration He did not think the claim could be challenged that as the widest area of the isthmus would benefit by the establishment of this airport a distribution of the expenditure over that area was just. He could see no other way in which the airport could be brought into being. ~ , ~ Air Davis said he would also call on the local bodies to accept their fair share of the responsibility of providing the proposed Fine Arts Centre. If thev did not accept the obligation he was afraid that the city might have to pause and reflect. Libraries and Parks After referring to the extent to which residents outside the citv boundaries used the city libraries. Air. Davis said it was surely not just or rensonable for such districts to expect the city to provide them with public library facilities without contributing to their maintenance and future improvements. The citv was also justly entitled to claim some measure of relief in the heavy expenditure it carried in the provision and maintenance of parks and reserves, which were available to j irrespective of residential qualification, i After referring to tho means b.v j which the city could be made more beautiful and residents and business | people encouraged to brighten up their ■ properties Air. Davis urgod the need for a uniform system of traffic control, while a reasonably unified administration of the traffic regualtions over the whole area would promote a greater measure of public safety and would generally be advantageous to local authorities and the travelling public alike. Unifying Essential Services

The issue involved in the unification of essential services was a tremendous one, said Mr. Davis. It would require the closest study from every point of, view, since it related to the amalgamation under one unified control of the services of power and lighting, transport, drainage and water. Reference was also made hv Mr. Davis to the importance ol co-ordina-tion of town-planning schemes. I'lie duolicatiou o| street names in varioiis districts was another matter requiring attention. and the Mayor suggested that a conference of town clerks and engineers to examine and repart. to the committee would go a long way io lemedving the fault. City's Heavy Responsibilities Mr. Davis said his memorandum had been framed, not altogether with the object of demanding a financial contribution trom the suburban local bodies, but to show frankly the position as it existed, and to point out what, in his opinion, was the justice of the city s responsibilities' that should be taken into account by other local bodies. Ihcre could be no question but that Auckland City assumed a heavy responsibility when it accepted the amalgamation of Avondale. Point Chevalier and Taniaki, but he was sure the citizens °f the isthmus recognised that tho na tnral imalityof local body administration must be some form of Greater Auckland government. Tho Mayor hoped tho committee would expiore this question, if only as a step toward the goal of a better administration than now existed, and which he hoped would be one of the f '»'ntennial attainments. It could bo oceonipli-h'ii, Imt it must be a matter °t pulling t"gethcr, and not apart. Delegates spoke in appreciation of the lead the Mayor had given them. After the proposal had been fully discussed, a motion bv the Mayor of Newmarket, Mr. S. Donaldson, that the meeting resolve itself into a committee to he called the Metropolitan Committee was carried unanimously. It was \i a J Tan P l 'd that a copy of the Mayor s memorandum be sent to all members of the local authorities concerned. Ihe matter of fixing the date of a footing in February, when the con*KlerA<l views of tlie various local oodies could bo presented, was left to Mr. Davis. -