AMALGAMATION OF LOCAL BODIES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LX, Issue 11086, 8 April 1933, Page 3

AMALGAMATION OF LOCAL BODIES

Information Sought by Counties’ Association

QUESTION BEFORE TAURANGA COUNCIL.

The Counties' Association in a letter to the Tauranga. County Council, read at yesterday's meeting, stated that the question of amalgamating local bodies had become increasingly prominent during the past two or three years, and that the demand for a reduction in local body expenditure was now so insistent that the Prime Minister had promised that a commission woqld he set up to investigate local body government with a view to effecting economies wherever possible. The facts chiefly relied upon by those prompting such an investigation appear to be: — 1. That, there were G 77 local bodies, of which 125 were county councils.

2. Such a multiplicity of local bodies necessarily meant great duplication of staffs and plants, and consequent high administrative costs which amalgamation would reduce. 3. From 1921 to 1931 professional and clerical officials of local bodies had increased by 64 per cent.., and salaries had increased by £439,962, or S 4 per cent. With the view of seeking the fullest consideration by the County Councils of the question of a reasonable reduction in the number of administrative authorities operating in rural areas the Executive of the Association had decided to invite the members of the Counties’ Association to review the position in their own areas rather than wait for perhaps coercive legislation. The Executive of the Association requested all County Councils to carefully survey the whole of the local authorities operating in their own and the contiguous localities, including such bodies as Drainage Boards, River Boards, Road Boards, Electric Power Boards, and Town Boards, as well as the number of County Counciljs, Avith the vieAV of ascertaining: (1) Whether some reductions could not Avell be made. (2) Whether Counties should not have a fairly large minimum area, at the same time making adequate provision for representation in the larger area.

(3) Whether it should not be mandatory for Councils to appoint Committies to deal Avith the special functions of such of the present minor bodies, such Committees to include members appointed by the ratepayers or interests specially concerned, such as drainage, Avater supply, town boards, etc., so that those specially concerned can be properly represented, Avhile the administration, rate collecting, etc., Avould he the duty of the County Council. The Executive felt that it Avould be a.n advantage for the discussion to he taken in committee, that later it might be desirable to have joint discussions with representatives of neighbouring counties, or of minor bodies Avithin the county, and then the considered opinion of such county or group should be fonvarded to the Executive.

It was further pointed out that legislation already existed in respect to the amalgamation of counties. The Executive felt that in some cases consideration of matters was sometime© tinged with personal considerations relating to the members of the various staffs, but it was hoped that the matter would be approached from a broad point of view, and with a recognition of the great change© which have taken place in the last two decades, botli in transport and in inter-communication, which makes it possible to-day to administer a much greater area with less trouble than a small area in years gone by. The Secretary of the New Zealand Counties’ Association wrote notifying that- a meeting of the Executive would be held at Wellington on April 21. All remits should be received by April 14. The County Clerk, Mr H. Lewis, submitted a statement, giving a comparison of local bodies' administiation. The comparison is given in considerable detail for counties, cities and boroughs, town districts, road districts, river districts, land diainage districts, electric-power boards, urban drainage districts, urban tVansport districts, rabbit districts, fire districts, harbour boards, gas lighting, water supply and local railways. We give only the comparative figures for counties and .the totals; Counties Total Number 1922 121 515 1931 . 125 626 Adminis- 1922 366 2256 t’ve stuff 1931 505 6348 £ £ Receipt© 1922 2,733.405 15.341.589 1931 3.961,256 20,097,601 Expen. 1922- 2.741,788 15,091,875 1931 4,298.027 22,174,524 Salaries .1922 104,149 568,203 1931 153,261 963,186 %of 1922 3.81 3.7 Receipts 1931 3.86 4.7 %of 1922 3.79 3.8 Expen. 19-31 3.56 4.3 The Chairman, Cr S. H. MacDougal, suggested that the letter from the Counties Association be considered at next meeting. The Association had suggested that as a Local Bodies Consolidation Bill was likely to be introduced before long, it would be well if they had some definite scheme of amalgamation to put before the expected Commission. Tauranga County was of itself a very large area and personally he doubted if a union With other counties would be of any advantage to the ratepayers. Within the county there are:- —one Borough, two Town Boards, three Electricity Authorities, one Hospital Board, one Harbour Board and four Drainage Boards.

The Chairman asked for particulars of the levy made by the Hospital Board, and Mr Lewis quoted the following figures: Tauranga, County Council. £2071 15s 8d; Tauranga Borough Council, £798; Te Puke

Toavii Board, £296. Cr Morton said the cost of running the Drainage Boards Avas not great.

Cr Lally commented on the increase in the number of local bodies. The Chairman referred to the hospital levy and thought the cost of hospitals should be borne by the Consolidatd Fund.

Cr Gane moved—That this Council is in favour of lessening the number of local bodies rating over identical areas, but is not in favour of increasing the area of counties. Cr Sinclair seconded the motion, which Avas carried unanimously. Cr Sinclair moved—That the Council forward a remit to the Counties Association, asking that hospital leW ies be abolished, and that the cost of hospitals be borne by the Cosolidated Fund; or failing that, that the hospital levy be made on a fifty-fifty basis on population and valuation. Cr Darragh seconded.

In reply to Cr Gane, the County Clerk, said the levy made by the Hospital Board had to be paid in full every year, and if the hospital rate did not meet the amount demanded then it had to be made up by the general fund. Cr Sinclair referred to the burden created on the local hospital board by the costs incurred in the treatment of natives.

It Avas decided to make an addition to the motion on the lines suggested by Cr Sinclair. Cr Lally made a suggestion regarding the holding of SAveepstakes in aid of hospitals. Cr Morton—That is the idea.

The motion, Avith the addition already indicated Avas carried unanimously.

Cr Gane moved—That this Council again urges upon the Executive of the Counties Association to make urgent representation to the Government to provide county revenue other than from the rating of lands. This Council, along with .others, is finding it increasingly difficult to collect much reduced rates from a rapidly decreasing number of financial ratepayers; the future position is serious and demands immediate action. Cr Mends seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.