IS IT TOO HIGH?

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19161, 18 November 1927, Page 9

IS IT TOO HIGH?

COST OF LOCAL GOVERN- ' MENT. ENQUIRY REQUESTED. [THE PRESS Special Service.] WELLINGTON, November 17. The adjourned.debate on Sir Robert Stout's motion in the Legislative Council in regard to the cost of local government in the Dominion was resumed to-day, the motion being carried on the voices. The Leader of the Council, Sir Francis Bell, said he wished to correct an unfortunate impression gained from Sir Robert Stout's remarks that local body salaries had . increased to £18,000,000 a year? That figure included salaries and wages paid by local authorities and Government' Departments, including! the wages of temporary employees. He expressed the opinion .'that there could not be much economy effected in salary bills. Prao* tically ; Sir Robert Stout proposed a reversion to provincial - government somewhat on tne lines of the old system. Under provincial government districts became too powerful. Each was a separately organised body, and each had complete legislative authority so long as the laws passed were not repugnant to the central authority. With the necessity for public works development came the necessity for removing the differential legislation of the Provincial Councils, and in 1875 the councils itere abolished after the trial of that system since 1854. Sir Robert Stout had been a vehement opponent of the abolition of the councils, and it was natural that he should be biased in favour of a system which he and some others had supported, but the large majority had opposed. The basis of our present local government, Sir Francis went on to say, was the county and municipal body system. The Massey Government had done much to reduce the number of minor local governing authorities, such as Road Boards, and so far from there having been, a process of increment in government within the counties, the trend had been entirely the other way. He thought there were still too many counties but not bo much in excess of the necessary number to warrant dluetic union on the lines suggested. In business capacity and desire for economy, the local bodies of New Zealand compared favourably with those of any other country in the world. The larger part of the expenses was made up of wages. Ho knew of no local authority that was over staffed. So far as he knew, official expenditure was not excessive. In replying, Sir Robert Stout said there had been a gradual increase in expenditure to such an extent did not know where we were getting to. No one could honestly say that the abolition the Provincial Councils had led to efficiency and economy .The question was whetner the Dominion could afford to go on as it was doing at present. All he asked for was an enquiry into the position. The motion was carried on the voices.