Local Body Amalgamations

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21886, 12 September 1936, Page 14

Local Body Amalgamations

The Minister for Internal Affairs would do well to consider carefully a statement by the executive of the Counties’ Association’on local body amalgamations which is printed in ‘The “Press” this morning. The association approves amalgamations in principle and suggests as a first step the elimination of small bodies, such as rabbit boards and drainage boards, which operate within county areas. The association is, however, emphatically of the opinion that an essential preliminary to amalgamations or mergers is the appointment of an impartial commission of enquiry. Apparently this opinion is based on the assumption that most of the smaller counties will not of thenown accord take any action likely to result in the loss of their identity. But there is a much stronger reason than this in favour of the appointment of a commission. If amalgamations of rural authorities are to produce any substantial improvement in the efficiency of local government they must be designed to produce administrative areas which conform to natural boundaries, which enclose some community of interest, and which, are conveniently and cheaply administered from one centre. Haphazard amalgamations are most unlikely to give this result. Presumably the Minister’s preference for the voluntary principle is due to his anxiety not to offend local interests. The Counties’ Association’s pronouncement in favour of compulsion should cause him to reconsider his bill. ■