Power Board’s Place In Local Government

Press, Volume C, Issue 29684, 30 November 1961, Page 19

Power Board’s Place In Local Government

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, Nov. 29. Electric-power boards, the key to progress of a community had been left out of local government, said Mr J. M. Dees (Opposition, Otahuhu) in the House of Representatives today. “I won’t vote for any regional authority or local body reform ■ until power boards are brought into the local Government Commission like territorial bodies,” he said, during the second reading debate on the Local Government Commission Bill. The bilL which replaces the Local Government Commission Act, 1953, provides for legislative charges necessary to effect recommendations in the report of the Local Bills Committee on its inquiry into the structure of local government. This report was tabled in the House last session. Power boards were erecting “grandiose” buildings from which they made additional profits, said Mr Deas. Power board profits should go back to the municipality. The Local Bills Committee had ignored expert evidence on this bill, said Mr Deas. He doubted whether any member of the committee was experienced enough in local body matters to form an opinion without this evidence. The Minister of Internal Affairs (Mr Gotz) in charge of the bill, said that New Zealand had taken the easy way out in local body reform. "Instead of strengthening local bodies we have set up more ad hoc local bodies which are costly.” Mr Gotz said that after

seeing the measure in operation, the Government might find that it was advisable for the commission to be increased to five members, “I would like to see all local bodies come within the purview of the Local Government Commission,'* said Mr Gott. An undertaking had been given to the Power Boards' Association, however, that power boards would not ba included in any amalgamation. "But some day, distribution of electricity will be regional and not local." he said. “If the local government commission doeent bring about amalgamation, economics will do so.” said Mr Gotz. Amalgamation would enable local bodies to do things that, on their own, they had neither the finance nor administration capacity to do.