OVERLAPPING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 136, 10 June 1932, Page 8

OVERLAPPING.

LOCAL BODIES' DUTIES. ROYAL COMMISSION WANTED. MANY ANOMAXIES APPARENT. OPINIONS OF AUCKLANDERS. Commenting! on' the, ■ proposal of. the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. Al Hamilton,Athat .there e'hould.be. a conference of. local todies to consider a grouping system, to eliminate overlap - ping and reduce overhead costs, Mr. J. M. Melville, who has made a special study of local body administration, said this morning that if" such a conference was anything like th© biennial municipal conference little could be expected of it. . i 3 .needed immediately k a Koyal Commission to define a practical f" **«* the much talked of derating of land can be brought about," he said. "The commission 8 should be given ample powers, with a wide order of reference. It.should propose methods for moving the cost of reading on to the user of the roads, and while that investigation is in progress careful attention shouldbe paid to local body loans— their duration, cost and the work they represent. Steps should be taken to place the loans on a sound basis. Arrangements should be made whereby certain local authorities should be compelled to amalgamate with other local Authorities. For instance, take an area felose to Auckland, which is sparsely populated and has three administrations—New Lynn, Glen Eden and Henderson. There is a good example of the of administrative officers. Amalgamation would result in reduced overhead costs, and the ratepayers would get some relief. ;; Sinking Funds. ', "The commission could aleo investigate all sinking funds and see that the periods of repayment synchronised with the life of the undertakings. This could . he done/ by arrangement with, the bond-

holders ■ .and legislation ; could b<; passed to validate what is done. 1 know of cases where reinforced concrete roads'in the Auckland metropolitan area have been constructed: from loan money, the sinking fund being 2J - per cent to extinguish loan in 20: years. All the evidence points to the.fact that the roads will be intact in 50 years. If the sinking funds in such cases are reduced to 1 per ■ cent, arid the term extended accordingly, with the > consent of the lenders, .the result, would..be a cash benefit amounting to 1$ per cent to the I present-day: ratepayer. The value of the bonds would be improved for the alteration would . make them more sound, arid-the undertaking would) in no way -be prejudiced..' There, 'are-, many glaring instances'of this sort of thing throughout the.-Domini6n and if- a reduction in the sinking fund payments were made the .ratepayers would'be. considerably relieved,. at a time when • relief is urgently: needed. I nm not- suggesting a writing-off, or repudiation, but am suggesting a eound financial arrangement to help, the present generation. Valuation System. . "That, overlapping in divers .ways U rife from end. to end of New Zealand is patent. The- commission, ■ whije on its investigation, should be authorised to inquire into the valuation system - with a view to eliminating overlapping ■ and wasteful expenditure. t The City Council makes a valuation for rating; purpose and the Government Valuation .Department values the same properties, separately for death duties, land tax and the like. Is that not an outstanding example of"overlapping? There are many other eases that might be quoted. Auckland hae two electric power '' boards, both equipped with highly paid staffs. It is well known, that one board could do the work. The overhead costs would be reduced and the consumer would receive the benefit in reduced charges, i

Too Many Counties. : "It has long been considered by those; who have investigated local body affairs, that the time is overdue for amalgamations of adjoining counties. Years ago, before the motor car, there was some excuse for their multiplicity, but to-day thousands of pounds could be saved the ratepayers by judicious amalgamations. I know of a district where the engineer of a certain county resides; in' another county 40 miles distant from his administrative headquarters. Is. that not an

argument for amalgamation M feel sure

that one of the best moves the Government can make at the present time is the appointment of a local government commission." "Wholesale Amalgamations Unworkable." Mr. I. J. Goldstine, chairman of the Suburban Local Bodies' Association, said there were good points in the Minister's suggestion, but the matter was involved, which would mitigate against success. "I agree that there are many ways in which various administrative functions could be advantageously grouped, with a • consequent saving to the ratepayers," said' »Mr. Goldstine. "Traffic control and engineering immediately suggest themselves. On the other hand it must bo remembered that each local body has its own problems, and many questions that would arise could not be effectively provided for under t a grouping system. Wholesale amalgamations appear unworkable. Their effect would be to- wipe out local interest. Ratepayers in a district in a favourable financial' position' would, tie up in arms, if forced to join with local authorities ■ not so. fortunately situated. A conference of local bodies, as suggested, I think would be abortive. The only practical way of bringing about co-ordination and the reduction, of overhead costs would be by means of a Royal Commission. I . am entirely opposed to amalgamations, on ' the general ground that one controlling body for large areas becomes unwieldy, and administrative efficiency/suffers in consequence. Numerous grounds ■ could' he quoted against amalgamations.. ■ A few years ago a commission took evidence throughout the world in. regard to amalgamations that were termed 'annexations,' and reported definitely against the idea. In Queensland something similar' happened."