LOCAL BODIES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 12290, 2 March 1938, Page 3

LOCAL BODIES

MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE AMALGAMATION PLAN New Plymouth. March 2 The New Zealand Municipal Association conference was opened in New Plymouth yesterday by the act-ing-Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. P. C. Webb, who emphasised the need of whole-hearted co-oper-ation between local bodies and the Government. “I appreciate the value of the great work carried out by the local bodies,” said Mr Webb. He added that the central Government could only carry out the will of the people as a whole. It was left to the local bodies to carrv on the development of their particular areas. This work they did in a splendid manner. The Hon. W. E. Parry’s amalgamation proposals were aimed only at bringing about greater efficiency and the elimination of unnecessary work, Mr Webb continued. He assured the local bodies that they would be given adequate time to carry out their part in the reform. More business efficiency and greater co-operation between the local bodies and the Government was the aim of amalgamation. The members of the conference were welcomed to New Plymouth by the Mayor, Mr E. R.. C. Gilmour. Mr T. Jordan, president, said some of the remits dealt with burning questions and all were important. The provision of standard building regulations for the whole Dominion was the subject of a Bluff remit, which was passed. The Government was recommended in a Mount Albert remit, which was adopted, that no permits for the establishment of factories be issued without the approval of the local authorities of the location of the factory in relation to town planning principles. Legislation giving local authorities power to control the installation of cooking appliances, which were sometimes installed unhealthily, is to be sought. Without comment the conference passed a remit asking the Government immediately to introduce legislation to combat the alarming increase in the consumption of alcoholic drink in the vicinity of public halls.