The Press SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1963. Regional Government

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30076, 9 March 1963, Page 10

The Press SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1963. Regional Government

The acceptance by the Christchurch City Council of the principle of one regional authority to replace existing special-purpose authorities is a step towards local government reform in the metropolitan area—a small step but a significant one. Provided other metropolitan bodies accept the lead given by the largest and most important, Christchurch will be able to establish a single organisation to take over some regional functions main roads, transport, planning, drainage, and possibly water supply. That would still leave many services of a regional character to be provided by individual territorial bodies, with the regional authority exercising its influence towards securing some co-ordination. However, as the committee set up by the last local body conference says, experience of the regional method of working will encourage the constituent districts to entrust more and more of their responsibilities to an authority that works better and more cheaply than they can. There are, of course, practical difficulties in the initial limitation of the regional authority’s functions. What kind of officer, for instance, would be its chief executive? The difficulties are not insurmountable. On the other hand the proposal has one overriding advantage: it can open the only door to local government reform that most councils would be prepared to enter. And it would, incidentally, increase efficiency and reduce the cost of metropolitan administration. If a single authority

for the whole area ii not practical politics, let us at least work towards a single administration for all local services that overlap existing territorial boundaries. Without it Christchurch cannot hope to 'make any progress in the next 25 years. The committee’s proposals have the merit of being simple and intelligible to all citizens, unlike the complicated plan that Auckland is trying to evolve. It provides, basically, for the appointment of regional authority members by the territorial bodies, a system that has worked excellently with the Metropolitan Planning Authority. Indirect election should serve well enough in the meantime, until the value and scope of the new authority have had a chance to impress citizens, at which stage direct election would become both desirable and feasible. Similarly, the committee is wise to restrict the proposed region to an area suited both to the active interest of citizens and to the existing powers of local government. When appropriate, the boundaries might be spread with great advantage because, exactly contrary to opinions expressed by city councillors, administration costs could be reduced considerably at the same time as efficiency was increased. The committee’s report is an imaginative attempt to carry public opinion along with a much-needed reform of local government; and it deserves to succeed. It will succeed if the elected representatives of the constituent authorities have faith in their city and are prepared to serve it.