AGAINST BILL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1937, Page 9

AGAINST BILL.

LOCAL AMALGAMATION. VIEWS IN THE WAIKATO. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, Thursday. * General disapproval of the Local Bodies Amalgamation Bill wiu; expressed at u conference comprising representatives of most of the drainage and rabliit boards and smaller local bodies, held in Hamilton to-day. The conference was convened by the Waikato County Council, the chairman of which, Mr. j. A. Sampson, presided.

The consensus of opinion, although no resolution to that effect was passed, was that centralised control would probably increase expenses, as much of the maintenance work was now done voluntarily by members of boards. Drainage board metrfbers were not opposed to a regrouping of areas with a common- interest, in neighbouring districts, but amalgamation which would provide for control by the Waikato County Council was objected to.

On the motion of Mr. R. 11. Feisst (Fencourt Drainage Board) the following resolution was carried: "That all drainage boards be asked to consider a re-grouping of the drainage districts in the Waikato County, with a view to taking over control of all drainage works within the county." Mr. Sampson said the Waikato County Council was not in favour of the amalgamation of all the small bodies, but the matter was for the ' meeting to decide. Mr. L. R. W. Reid, chairman of the Taupiri River and Drainage Board, said his board comprised seven amalgamated drainage boards which made the largest body of its kind in the Dominion. He considered the board was big enough to give the most economical service possible and a county council could not exercise such efficient control. "There is a suspicion that the Government will force amalgamation if local bodies are loath to reach amicable settlements," said Mr. Feisst. "if so we should unite to oppose the Government and maintain rights. We hiay consider the re-grouping of some of the drainage boards, but not amalgamation."

Other delegates expressed views in the main favourable to maintaining the present system of control.