H—2B

Following a conference between the local authorities, the Tinwald Town District intimated that it was of the opinion that no change should be made at present, but referred the question to the Commission for its consideration. It has been decided to undertake a review of county boundaries in the area before further considering the application. (13) General A number of applications has been referred to the Commission in terms of section 24 of the Local Government Commission Act, 1946, and we have agreed to action being taken in accordance with the appropriate enactment without recourse to public inquiries. Reference is made to these particular applications in the Appendix, pages (38) and (39). IX. MATTERS UNDER CONSIDERATION Although no definite fixtures have been made for future inquiries, the following matters are under consideration, and preliminary factual data has in some instances already been obtained by the investigating staff of the Commission. (1) Auckland Metropolitan Local Government. —It has been decided by the Commission, in the first instance, to undertake a separate inquiry into the areas and functions of local government in the North Shore area before proceeding with the major question of the Auckland Metropolitan Area. Included in the scope df this inquiry are the east coast bays, situated within the County of Waitemata, together with certain other smaller areas, as well as the four Boroughs of Devonport, Takapuna, Birkenhead, and Northcote. The question of the inclusion of Herald or Pine and Rangitoto Islands within the territory of an existing local authority will also.be dealt with. Applications have been received by the Commission from the undermentioned authorities, but have been deferred pending consideration of the wider issues pertaining to metropolitan local government in Auckland : (а) The constitution of the Mount Wellington Road District as a borough : (б) The constitution of the Glen Eden Town District as a borough. (2) Consideration of the future control of electric-power supply in the Malvern,Banks Peninsula, and Springs-Ellesmere Electric-power Districts. (3) A suitable form of local government for the Tawa Flat - Porirua and Titahi Bay areas in the Makara County. This matter was referred to in our previous year's report, but was deferred until such time as certain of the parties had completed their investigations into the position. The collation of relevant information concerned principally the Ministry of Works, the Regional Planning Organization, and the Wellington City Council. The Commission had decided before the close of the year that the inquiry should be commenced in May, 1949. Included within the scope of the inquiry is the future of the Johnsonville Town District, which is/contiguous to the City of Wellington, together with certain other adjacent areas. Large-scale development has already been commenced by the Housing Division of the Ministry of Works in the Porirua and Titahi Bay areas, and private development is proceeding rapidly in the Tawa Flat area. The need for some suitable form of urban local government was raised by the Makara County Council. (4) A review of the counties in the Wairarapa district. (5) A review of the town districts in the North' Canterbury district. (6) The constitution of a catchment district for the Waikato and such other areas as may be considered desirable for inclusion from the. point of view of over-all administration.

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