TOO MANY LOCAL BODIES?

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21793, 27 May 1936, Page 10

TOO MANY LOCAL BODIES?

AMALGAMATION SCHEME BURGESSES TO WAIT ON MINISTER ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED SOON A case for the amalgamation of local bodies, to be placed before the Minister for- Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) when he next visits Christchurch, will be formulated by a committee representative of ratepayers’ associations in and around Christchurch, it was decided at last evening’s meeting of the council of the United Burgesses’ Association. A committee was set up for the purpose and it will accumulate details about the administration of local bodies in Christchurch, so that it may impress the Minister with the advantages of the amalgation of local bodies.

In reply to a letter from the association, which detailed some of the advantages possible through amalgamation, the Minister wrote: “I intend to examine carefully the whole question of local government with a view to seeing what reforms are necessary and desirable. As soon as I am in a position to do so I shall make a pronouncement on the subject, setting out the lines of action proposed to be followed. The views expressed by your council about the various local governing bodies which are functioning in the Christchurch district will receive my careful consideration when the proposals are under review.” The Minister added that when he next visited Christchurch he would be pleased to discuss the matter with a deputation from the association. The chairman (Mr A. Peverill) said that a committee fully Representative of ratepayers’ interests should be set up to go into the matter thoroughly so that a forceful case might be placed before the Minister. The association had support from the Christchurch City Council, which recently had passed a resolution in favour of the amalgamation of local bodies. He quoted from a statement made in February by Mr Parry, who had said that he intended to bring about thef co-or-dination of local bodies, by which at present he was hemmed in. Rate Reduction Possible The official year book showed that rates in the Dominion had risen by £50,000,000 in 19 years and if administrative expenses could be reduced rates could be reduced in I cordance. He was sure that if the i association could show the Minister how a saving could be effected' throughout the country he would take action. Ratepayers in all quarters would give their support, but the opposition of local bodies themselves would have to be met. He suggested that the committee should Investigate the administrative expenses of other cjties—Dunedin and Auckland were run by their city councils, and Wellington largely by its city council—and show how much greater similar expenses were in Christchurch.

The association should bring a concise case before the Minister, said Mr G. E. Franklin, and give him solid evidence of how amalgamation would bring benefit. The wide areas of Auckland and Wellington should be compared with Christchurch, where one had only to move a short distance to be outside the city and in a borough or county.

The greatest difficulty would be to overcome the reluctance of local body rtiembers to give up their positions, said the chairman. That done, the rest would be easy. The meeting decided to set up a committee to work out a case to be heard by Mr Parry, and the following were appointed to it:—Messrs S. W. Richardson. T. S. Dacre, G. E. Franklin, H. Nettleton, H. Jones E R. Adcock. A. Peverill, L. A. Jarden, J. J. Rowe, and F. Hervey Hamilton, with power to add.