“Whims” Of Electors In Amalgamation Schemes

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29004, 18 September 1959, Page 15

“Whims” Of Electors In Amalgamation Schemes

(New Zealand Pre** Association)

AUCKLAND, Sept. 17. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Anderton) believes the work o f the Local Government Commission should not be obstructed by the “whims of electors.” He has told the Devonport Borough Council that he believes more restrictions on electors’ rights to oppose commission rulings should be considered. Council members described the letter last night as “the blackest document ever received by the council.” and “one of the most remarkable statements from a Minister.”

Mr Anderton was answering a request for amendments to provisions of the Local Government Commission Act that require 60 per cent, of the electors to vote

against a proposal to have it set aside.

He said that if the work of the commission was to be of anv value it should not be left entirely to the whims of electors to decide whether the considered decisions of such tribunals were to, be given effect to. Hr Anderton said that in his opinion many of the problems associated with local government reorganisation were not appreciated or understood by the majority of electors in the area concerned. He spoke of questions of health and “many other factors” which' had an important bearing on reorganisation, but were of “little concern to the electors.” “I consider, therefore, that in the majority of cases any proposal of the Local Government Commission should not be set aside because it is opposed by a bare majority of votes at a poll,” the Minister said. “O'? , the contra ry> I feel it would be more appropriate to consider further restricting the rights of electors to defeat proposals of the commission rather than make it easier for them to do so.”