GREATER AUCKLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22839, 21 September 1937, Page 8

GREATER AUCKLAND

On the subject of local-body amalgamation, with special reference to the bodies "within the Auckland isthmus" and to the provisions of the Local Body (Amalgamation Schemes) Bill, Sir Ernest Davis made an important statement to the City Council last night. As Mayor, he has worked assiduously and wisely to bring about a Greater Auckland extending, in accordance with the views of an "old school of thought," from the Manukau to the Waitemata. That there should be a tone of disappointment in his allusion to that work is not surprising, for it has merited a greater measure of success than has been realised. However, his experience has happily not made him impatient, and his reasoned opposition to arbitrary action to effect amalgamation is soundly offered. Each case should certainly be considered on its merits. Further, "unconditional" amalgamation and rearrangement of boundaries is open to grave objection, as experience shows, and Sir Ernest took the right course in prompting the deletion of the absolute term. In all discussion of the subject there should be, and can be, a spirit of sweet reasonableness, emphasis being placed on the principle of "give and take." To the appeal of His Worship, that the local bodies should come together to find a workable formula based upon common interest, there will doubtless be a sympathetic response. This appeal definitely excludes the proffering of any formula as the only possible or acceptable one. It invites collaboration. A conference on that basis would be the best means of testing the validity of schemes propounded to give practical shape to a laudable idea.