LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 273, 18 November 1927, Page 13

LOCAL GOVERNMENT.

A QUESTION OF COST.

SIR ROBERT STOUT'S ATTACK. A VIGOROUS DEFENCE. (By Telegraph.—Parliamentary Reporter.) WELLINGTON, Thursday. The adjourned debate on Sir Robert Stout's motion in the Legislative Council in regard to ascertaining the cost of local government in the Dominion was resumed to-day, the motion being carried on the voices. The Leader of the Council, Sir Francis Bell, said he wished to correct an unfortunate impression gained from Sir Robert Stout's remarks that local body salaries had increased to f18,000,000 a year. That figure comprised salaries and wages paid by authorities and Government Departments, including wages of temporary employees. He expressed the opinion that there could not be much economy effected in salary bills. Practically, Sir Robert proposed a reversion to provincial government, somewhat on lines of the old system under which provincial government districts became too powerful. Each was a separately organised body, and each had complete legislative authority so long as the laws passed were not repugnant to central authority. With the necessity for Public Works development came the necessity for removing differential legislation of provincial councils, and in 1875 the councils were abolished after trials of that system. Since 1854 Sir Robert had been a vehement opponent of the abolition of the councils, and it was natural that he should be biased in favour Of a system which he and some others had supported, but a large majority had opposed. The basis of our present local government was the country and municipal body system. The Massey Government had done much to reduce the number of minor local governing authorities, such as road boards; and, so far from there having been a process of increment in Government within counties, the trend had been entirely the other way. He thought there were still too many counties, but not bo much in excess of the neecssary number to warrant drastic action on lineß suggested. In business capacity and desire for economy the local bodies of New Zealand compared favourably with those of any other country in the world. The larger part of the expenses was made up of wages. He knew of no local authority that was overstaffed; bo far as he knew official expenditure was not excessive.

Replying, Sir Robert Stout said there had been • gradual increase in expenditure to such an extent that he did not know where we were getting to. No one could honestly say that .abolition of provincial councils had led to* efficiency and economy. The question was whether the Dominion could afford to go on as it was doing at present. All he asked for was an inquiry into the position.

The motion was carried on the voices,