DEVOLUTION FOR SOUTH ISLAND

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25609, 25 September 1948, Page 8

DEVOLUTION FOR SOUTH ISLAND

REMIT FOR LOCAL BODIES’ CONFERENCE

The importance of the forthcoming South Island local bodies’ conference in Westport was emphasised by Mr D. Cress well at a meeting of the Mount Herbert County Council yesterday. There were three dangers facing this island to-day, said Mr Cresswell — weakness in approach for a measure of self-government, duplication of offices held by many leading committee men, which made it impossible to give the necessary time to South Island interests, and the overall feeling that nothing could be done , without the consent of Wellington. “Only to-dav the council has had an instance of this,” continued Mr Cresswell. He referred to a letter from the chief traffic inspector, Christchurch, replying to a request from the council for a speed limit of 30 miles an hour through the built-up area in Governor’s Bay. In his reply, the inspector had said that the correct procedure was to refer the matter to the Commissioner of Transport, Wellington.

“In view of this sort of thing, and I make no apologies for it. I think the council’s first remit to the South Island Local Bodies’ Association should be as follows: ‘That devolution be an accepted aim of this association, and that in three months the executive circulate a written report on its possibilities.’ ”

Mr Cresswell said that devolution meant the transfer of business from Parliament to bodies responsible to it, and had led in Scotland to the appointment of a Secretary of State, as might well happen in the South Island. The remit was passed unanimously by the council. Mr Cresswell was appointed the council’s representative at the conference. ,