"ASTONISHING LIST."

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 102, 2 May 1931, Page 15

"ASTONISHING LIST."

DOMINION'S LOCAL BODIES. WHICH ABE SUPERFLUOUS ? (By the ASSOCIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE) It is often declared that New Zealand has an unduly large proportion of Civil servants. Times of stress, like the present, indicate the truth of such a statement, and one of the effects, now visible, i is the unwelcome process of reducing extra personnel as far as the exigencies of the time allow. But the Dominion can claim another distinction in the way of excess, an extraordinary number of local government bodies of various kinds, in addition to the numerous Government Departments. On December 31, 1929, there was in New Zealand a population of 1,488,595. The destinies of these people were in the hands of about 40 Government Departments and no fewer, than 705, local governing bodies. It is true that the Government Departments are grouped, so that a Minister holds more than one portfolio; nevertheless, the Departments, each with its own organisation, in chief, are all separate Latterly there has been a degree of amalgamation of Departments in the interests of economy. It is an interesting question whether local government effers any scope for reorganisation- ' Nearly all the local bodies are empowered to collect, and mostly do collect, revenues from the people they' serve, for expenditure upon the services > they; render. 'Here is the astonishing list;—-' 127 county councils, 120 borough councils, 41 independent town boards, 2< dependent town boards, 19 road boards, 64 land drainage boards, 3 city and, suburban drainage boards, 6 water supply boards, 50 fire boards, 1 local railway board, 46 harbour boards, 44 electric power boards, 47 hospital boards, 1 tvamway board, 1 transport board, 1 gas lighting board, 46 rabbit boards, 18 mam highway district,councils. • New Zealand'ers are claimed to be the most law-abiding people in the world. They certainly ought to be, with so many guardians and guides. ."Not All Needed." The existing local governing bodies may or may not all be necessary. To determine which are superfluous would demand an exhaustive research. But it is reasonable to assume that an investigation would' prove that they are not all needed. In the early days of the Dominion local bodies naturally and necessarily sprang into existence to meet local need's everywhere. But it is one thing to conjure an office into existence; quite another to.abolish it. Local dignitaries as well as paid officials cling like limpets to their positions, though thenboards may long have outlived their usefulness. We have not Wlook far for evidence of. the inefficiency of the present system. In municipal affairs we find intense activity amoD.-£ associations and leagues of ratepayers and electors, and so on, whose .principal activities, however expressed, simply arise from dissatisfaction with their councils. We find hospital boards under criticism for being prouder of their architectural possessions and magnitude than of their medical service. Above all, we find, everywhere, a general feeling that local government is not as effieiewfc as it should and could be. •■■■■'?." Investigation Advised.

The Associated Chambers of Commerce has recently urged that Parliament should be reduced in. numbers. Among other benefits, this would permit, an actual increase in.the average ability of the House. Similarly, if a decrease in the number of local governing, bodies could be brought about, might look for an improvement in personnel as well as probably a 'financial saving and' improved administration. The -Associated Chambers of Commerce, at this stage, merely wishes to. draw attention to .this matter, and t6 suggest to the Government that it should be made the subject of investigation of a competent body, which could make recommendations. The questions are: Are there too many local bodies? If so, which should be abolished, or merged with others to produce moro efficient government? What saving would be thus effected?