LOCAL BODIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22983, 10 March 1938, Page 20

LOCAL BODIES

AMALGAMATION ISSUE CONFERENCE DISCUSSION ATTITUDE OF AUCKLAND An echo of the proceedings of the New Zealand Municipal Association conference at New Plymouth last week was heard at a meeting of the One Tree Hill Borough Council last night when the delegates, the Mayor, Mr. I. .T. Goldstine, and .Mr. W. G. Mulholland, reported on the conference. The Mayor said he felt it was his duty to acquaint tho people of Auckland with the position which had developed at the conference in regard to the Amalgamation (Local Bodies Schemes) Bill. There had been no remit from any local body and the subject was raised by the president of the association, Mr. T. Jordan, Mayor of Masterton, who intimated that he had given evidence before the Parliamentary Committee. "In view of the attitude of the Auckland Suburban Local Bodies' Association on the compulsory provisions of the bill which the Mayor of Mount Albert and myself were authorised to oppose I took the opportunity to discuss the issue," continued Mr. Goldstine. "In his evidence before the committee Mr. Jordan had stated be considered it safe to say that the majority of local bodies supported the bill. I informed the conference that I considered Mr. Jordan's statement was too wide. 1 said that had the statement mdicated that the majority of local bodies supported the principle of reducing the number of local bodies and effecting economies it would have been nearer the mark. In Auckland, at least, there is decided opposition to the compulsory provisions of the bill." Mr. Goldstine said that to test the matter lie had moved a motion protesting against the compulsory provisions. f 'lmmediately the president— UK-wiT opinion »ud reKrettablv —made the matter a personal issue, said Mr. Goldstine. "He intimated that he was on trial because of the evidence he had given." The motion was lost by 59 votes to 39. but it was significant that onlv 98 of the 150 delegates voted, and the' defeat on such a vital issue wjis due. said Mr. Goldstine,_ to the larger voting powers of the cities and boroughs and the regrettable fiction or the president. "The issue was clouded and Decanio largely a vote of confidence or no confidence in the president,' he said. , pi Mr. Goldstine said he was satisfied from the attitude of the delegates after the conference that there was strong opposition # to the compulsion proposed in the bill.