Amalgamation Unpopular

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22050, 25 March 1937, Page 14

Amalgamation Unpopular

The Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry, has no reason to feel pleased with the attitude of Canterbury county councils to his amalgamation proposals. It is already apparent that the scheme to create one county in the area between the Rangitata and rivers is opposed by a majority of the counties affected; and at the meeting at Rangiora of representatives of the Rangiora, Oxford, Kowai, Ashley, and Eyre counties opinion was overwhelmingly against an alteration in the status quo. The meeting of representatives of the counties round Christchurch was held in committee and did not announce publicly whether any decision had been taken on the amalgamation issue. It was responsible, however, for the not very helpful suggestion that amalgamations should not take place without the consent of the ratepayers of the districts affected. The operation of the provision, in the Counties Act for polls of ratepayers to decide proposed alterations in boundaries shows as be that in this matter the judgment of $e ratepayers is capricious. It may be assumed" that I the Minister, tor. Internal Affairs :i*'M*^ ,*.

dilemma. He must realise that the great majority of counties will fight amalgamation by all the means in their power and that most of the country members of the House of Representatives will be much relieved if the Local Government (Amalgamation Schemes) Bill is dropped. " The Press" has maintained ever since local government reform became a political issue that the only satisfactory approach to the problem is the appointment of a commission of experts to examine the local government system thoroughly and present a detailed scheme of reform. The need for such an enquiry is generally realised by the public and has even been admitted by associations of local authorities. Moreover, the commission's report would greatly strengthen the Government's case, in the same way as the report of the Dairy Industry Commission prepared the public mind for the extension of State control over the dairy industry. Mr Parry's attempt to persuade local bodies to take the initiative in local government reform has merely served to put a strong vested interest on the defensive.