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GREATER MELBOURNE
THE A.N.A. SCHEME.
CONTROL of PUBLIC UTILITIES.
The. A.N.A. metropolitan committee con
sidered nt its meeting last evening tlie
scheme drafted by a special committee ap
pointed to frame suggestions for the con
stitution of a Greater Melbourne Council.
Mr. J. A. Russell presided. The special
committee reconimended an clanornte
scheme in which tlie Greater Melbourne
Council was to be given power to control va
rious public utilities in an area of approxi
mately 100 square miles, extending from
Camberivell to Williamstown, and from Co-
burg to, Brighton. It was suggested that
this council should embrace 20 constituen
cies, each having three representatives
elected for a period of three yeans, prefer
ably on the basis of the .State Parliamen
tary franchise. The council would have
power to lcvy.' rates, to acquire existing
works, plants, &e.; nnd to possess neces
sary borrowing powers. It was also urged
'that steps be taken to bring ubotit the
formation of such a council. '
Mr. 'J. A. Russell, .in introducing the re
port, said that when they considered the
present position, of public utilities in the
metropolis — the various electric lighting
orders, 'tlie need for tramway extension:
and the gas problems (cheers "and cries of
"And the charges")— they must realise that'
the time was ripe for the establishment'
of a strong federal municipality. (Cheers.).
Mr. M. M. Phillips moved the adoption
of the report, and explained tlmt it was not
intended to interfere with the work of local
municipalities, but to undertake tlie work
of certain bodies now serving Melbourne as
a whole. .
Mr. Moir, in seconding, referred to the
conflict between tlie Fire Brigades Board
and the Metropolitan Board cf Works with
reference to water for fire purposes as
showing the need for a Greater Melbourne
council. (Hear, hear.) He warmly de
fended the adult suffrage basis for tlie
council. (Ilenr, hear.)
After considerable discussion it mis de
cided to postpone further consideration un
til a copy of the scheme had been submit
ted to each branch.
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