GREATER AUCKLAND MOVEMENT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 25, 21 April 1927, Page 8

GREATER AUCKLAND MOVEMENT

SOME impetus may be given the Greater Auckland movement by current (Wilts. Mr. BloodAA r orth, one of the candidates for the mayoralty, announces himself as a strong supporter of the scheme, and the people of Kohimarama and St. Ileliers appear anxious to come into the city. Speaking at the first-named centre on Tuesday night, Mr. A. G. Cottrell, representing the local ratepayers’ association, made it clear that only candidates in favour of the Tamaki Road Board joining the city Avould receive_ the support of the association, and each nominee Avas asked in turn whether he Avas in favour of the proposal. A similar meeting aa 7 rs held in St. Heliers, and five candidates Avere nominated aaTio are in faA’our of amalgamation, as against two candidates AA r ho are not. In the several boroughs there are candidates of opposing vieAvs on the question of Greater Auckland, but it seems, as though it is being made an election platform only at Tamaki. Just iioav Tamaki may not appear to liave a a-p I-v important bearing on Greater Auckland, but rain begins a drop at a time, and the decision of this ratepayers’ association, representing the local body of a district that is destined to groAv immensely in population and progress, may prove a lead that Avill be folloAved by similar associations elseAvhere. On the other hand, the Mayor of Newmarket, Mi-. S. Donaldson, is against amalgamation, and one of the planks of his platform is to make NeAvmarket an independent municipality. Far better that it should be merged into the city, for of all the boroughs, Newmarket appears most suited for coming in at once. It is a borough almost completely surrounded by the city municipal area, and it is rather an anomaly that it should retain a separate governing body. Under the city control it could be far more satisfactorily and far more economically administered.